Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Review: Once and Always by Judith McNaught.


Once and Always, one of Judith McNaught's most masterful and moving love stories, powerfully brings to life the fiery passion of a free-spirited American beauty and a troubled English lord.


Suddenly orphaned and alone, Victoria Seaton sails the vast ocean, eager to reclaim her heritage at Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of a distant cousin, the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Bewildered by his arrogance yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she senses the painful memories that smolder in his eyes. When he gathers her at last into his arms, arousing a sweet, insistent hunger, they wed and are embraced by fierce, consuming joy — free from the past's cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of anguish, Victoria discovers the treachery at the heart of their love . . . a love she had dreamed would triumph not just once, but always.

This book was glorious to read. I think I really enjoy the British settings and the whole Upper class rules of the Ton in London and how the servants are so curious and how they pass on information to each other so quickly. The servants are very loyal to the families they work for and from generation passed down to generation servant families dedicate themselves to serving one family. I don’t agree with all the rules of the ton, but back in the day that’s how it was done and probably done that way today as well.

The main character Victoria Seaton is a sweet, young, naïve girl from America. Her parents loved her and her sister Dorothy and raised them in a little warm home. Her parents got into an accident and died leaving her and her sister with no one to care for them. Before their mother died, she told the doctor of relative’s names he could write to and see if they would be willing to care for them.

Victoria’s first love was Andrew Bainbridge who she grew up with back in America. He was older than she was but he loved her since she was very young and was waiting for the day he could wed her and make her his wife. He told her he was going to marry her and she thanked him and said that is lovely that she would be able to marry her dear friend. She was 14 at the time I believe when he told her. Things did not happen that way at all.

Dorothy was taken to her great grandmother and Victoria was taken to her uncle’s house and both of their relatives were wealthy. They were separated because their great grandmother did not want to take Victoria; she reminded her too much of her granddaughter Katherine (Victoria’s mother). Katherine was a beautiful woman who married an Irish physician and moved to America without her grandmother’s knowledge; yet her heart was with another man.

How tragic that must have been to marry someone and yet your love and heart is with another. I just can’t fathom that and would not wish that upon anyone. True Love does exist in my book!

Victoria, upon arriving to her Uncle Charles mansion, did not know that her uncle already took the liberty of announcing her engagement to her cousin Jason Fielding. Victoria and Jason are very much the opposite pair and their story just kept me reading and reading some more.

The thing I enjoyed about this book was that, Victoria was so naïve about everything even the birds and the bees. She was so fun loving and down right just cared about everyone including the servants. She taught her husband Jason Fielding how to be loved and how to love in return without giving diamonds or rubies which is what he thought love was based upon jewelry and gifts for women. A sailor friend of Jason’s told Victoria that if she would understand what Jason went thru in his childhood and life, she would be able to Love ONCE and ALWAYS, as he did with his wife.

I love that saying and it’s so true! There will come a time where we all find love or will fall in love many times, but there should be that one time when you fall in love just once and it will be for always! I guess I’m a hopeless romantic but most of us who read romance novels are. I’m a happily ever after type of person which is why I love Romance Novels because for the most part it will be a happy ending hooray! The world is so full of mishaps and chaos that if I’m reading a book and spending hours reading, it better be a happy ending

There were plenty of times where Victoria misunderstood Jason’s adult gestures but it wasn’t her fault she was not taught any of that adult intimacy stuff. She was beautiful and very kind and gentle to everyone she came in contact with. Jason knew he loved her the moment he laid eyes on her. Their marriage was arranged and although it was not predicated on love at first, I already knew that Jason loved his little young wife. He taught her how to make love and in time their love was REAL and LASTING! He missed her something terrible when she would leave and vice versa, but they were made for each other. Everyone who knew the real Jason, knew that Victoria was exactly what he needed, a caring and loving young woman. She didn’t care for his jewels or who his parents were she truly cared about Jason her handsome husband, he came to realize this and finally said the words he has never said before to any woman ‘I LOVE YOU”. Aww now that’s what I’m talking about. Due to his terrible childhood upbringing, he never cried! At one point in the book, everyone thought Victoria drowned in the lake, and Jason loving his wife finally cried!

A great story that had me wanting to read some more. Check it out and I’ll definitely be reading more of Judith McNaughts books. Another great author and book to add to the list. Thank you for good reading!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

"Nesian Nine in Las Vegas"


Nesian Nine all the way from Hawaii-Nei performed for their first time in Las Vegas on Friday, Spetember 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was Las Vegas' Hoolaulea and many artists from Hawaii came out to celebrate. Names like Princess Ilona, Alo Key, FIJI and Nesian Nine to name a few. The concert was pool side and was very beautiful with cabanas all lining the pool, warm air in the background, polys everywhere enjoying the music and a whole lot of drunk fools too haha!

Nesian Nine is a Samoan group of talented singers with their island reggae flare and R&B tunes which brings music to my ears! I love their style and when I hear them sing with sweet harmonies, I just cant help but get up and sway to the music and dance, dance, dance! I must admit, it was a standing all night long event and my feet were killing but when they say my jam, "Lets Get It On" I must have jumped up and got my 2nd wind and was swaying to the music waving my hands in the air and if I had more room I would have did my infamous SHIMMY and DROP and DO THE EAGLE RENDITION..thats how good these guys are when they sing.

They showcased some little dance steps while singing and teh bass player AMAKO was off the chains. This brutha was swaying his hips with his bass guitar like nobodys business, talk about doing the AMI in a full circle while playing an instrument, man this brutha got the moves..Big Ups to ya AMAKO, and he's a cool cat, hecka funny..I wouldn't mind kickin it with him all day and just laughing my As* off! Hilarious and musical good combo and being Samoan is a PLUS! haha..Gotta love these guys..The crowd received them very well and look forward to hearing them sing and perform in Hawaii when I make my way up there sooner than later I hope!

Nesian Nine, if you haven't heard their music, do it now and you won't be sorry! Guarantee to enjoy their sweet harmonies and feed off their energy when they perform. Malo lava!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

"The Rail" Concert JBOOG with FIJI


The Rail in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah Event Center is a nice and spaciouis venue where Polynesias Singing Artists performed on Thursday, September 9, 2010. The main performers for the night were JBOOG- Hip Hop/Reggae artist strait outta LONG BEACH and FIJI-Island Style Reggae singer right outta the isles of the Pacific- Laie, Hawaii. These two performers did a great job sharing the stage and highlighting each other while singing their songs and hooks together. JBOOG has a #1 hit song in Jamaica right now called "Nice to know ya" and I must say that the song is bomb.com! It has a nice reggae rhythm to it and you can get your groove on at the same time. I saw his video on FaceBook last night and I enjoyed it. Although, I think I could have held his hand and did my rendition of the Polynesian Cat Walk, full on shimmy and connect it to the drop and do the eagle while slowly coming up pole girl dancer style and then a littele ori opu with the tummy, but I would definitely wear a girdle on that day ha!then a quick ami and a push of the hip out with the foot and toe pointed yea, did I give this little rendtion some thought..umm hell to the NO, its na-tu-ral babee haha!! But great artist..
FIJI is the OG! He will definitely give you a show to remember. Right now he's going thru some medical setbacks and is in a wheelchair but does that stop him from singing his heart out? Hell to the mutha effing NO..haha! The boy can sing and reach some astronomical notes that I can't even hit on a good day at choir practice, you know what I'm saying...I'm like he's like "Hot on Wheels" he's so good at what he does! Big ups to FIJI! He's a natural born entertainer and although his lyrics can have some sexy slurs to it, its all good it aint like ya'll aint heard them thangs anyways and thought about it once or twice or maybe even more haha! Just keepin it real! He's a musical legend for the Polynesian people and still hittin it with his fine and distinct falseto notes that are unreachable by many male singers. Keep the music alive and continue to pursue the vision of Polynesians makin it and crossin over to the big leagues, well thats my vision.
I enjoyed myself at the concert and appreciated all the entertainment that night. Other artists were Spawn Breezie, The band Hot Rain, and JR from Naughty Roots or something like that. Thanks for a great night artists of tomorrow and the future!

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

"One Season of Sunshine"


This book was a joy to read. I was browsing in Target and saw that they were having a big sale on all Romance Novels and since I'm a new convert to the books, I decided to take a peek. Well that peek turned into me purchasing 10 books not on the same day but within the time limit to take advantage of the sale indeed. The cover of the book caught my eye and I must admit that the covers of books are pretty much what sway me to it and then I turn it around and take a read of the brief explanation. If it captures my attention then its gonna be a definite purchase. So that is my explanation of how I bought "One Season of Sunshine" by Julia London. I must admit that this is the first book of hers that I've read and I wasn't disappointed.
Characters:
Susanna Price- wife and mother of 2 children
Asher Price- husband of Susanna
Riley Price- 13 year old daughter of the Prices
Levi Price- 5 year old son of the Prices
Jane Aaron- nanny for the Price kids
Jane Aaron a 2nd grade teacher and graduate student working on her masters. Jane was brought up in a home with 2 brothers, loving parents who owned a local restaurant in Houston, called The Garden. The family would have their dinner in one of the rooms of the restaurant every night before they opened up for business. What a nice family tradition, to have dinner together the old fashioned way. I always say a family that prays and EATS together, stays together haha~ Jane had black hair and could not cook a meal if her life depended on it, but her brothers were very good cooks like their parents. Jane wasn't athletic, but her brothers were tall, slender, blonde hair and blue eyes. Jane loved her family to death and wouldn't trade them for the world, but something was missing and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. As time passes on, Jane begins to feel uneasy not knowing who her real birth mother was and the question always lingered in her mind, why did my birth mother give me away? Why didn't she love me? Jane was adopted and it didn't bother her until recently. She felt an emptiness that wouldn't stop bothering her until she was able to answer those questions of who she was, what natiionality was she, is her mother still alive? So many questions needed to be answered.
Jane was born September 1980 in Cedar Springs, and that's all she knew. Summer came around and Jane made up her mind, she was going to move to Cedar Springs and get some answers however she could. Her family was not happy about her move and Jane reassured them she would be back before the start of the new school year. She also had a steady boyfriend for 3 years who loved her and wanted to marry her, but when he proposed on that day, Jane didn't say no and she didn't say yes. Time is what she needed to straighten things out in her life right now. He (Johnathan) adored her and loved her more than anythng, but at this point and time in Janes life, she wasn't ready to committ, not just yet. She wanted to know who she was, etc. So she broke his heart and was still friends with Johnathan. I was king of mad at Jane at this point, I mean come on 3 years in a relationship, the guy loves you and proposes and you just let him go , whoa that is alot to take in for a guy. poor Johnathan. Jane told him she was just being honest and the truth hurts almost all the time.
Before Jane sets out to leave from Cedar Springs her mom tells her, Jane God has put is in our care and you're right where you're suppose to be. You might go and not find what you're looking for or get disappointed, whatever it is, remember we are here and we are your family, we love you Jane and you are my daughter! Jane shed some tears and told her that she is her mother and loves her very much, this is just something she has to do for herself. She said her good byes and left for her journey to Cedar Springs.
Jane got a job as a live in nanny for Asher Prices kids. Their mother Sussana Price passed away in a car accident about 2 years ago and frankly Asher Price was desperate for a nanny. He was partner in an advertising firm which needed his attention and required that he would travel for weeks at a time out of state. His home was lavished with fine paintings and art work and photos of his late wife hanging everywhere. Jane was hired and settled into the guest house which was beautiful and right by the pool. As time progresses she sees how much the kids love their father and are often anxiously awaiting for their father to return from his trips. Asher Price absolutely loved his kids and there was nothing more that he loved to come home to then the sound of his kids sweet voices when they would greet him from a trip.
I admired Asher Price for raising his 2 kids the best way he knew how. Cedar Springs was a small town and everyone knew everyone in town. He adored his kids and they were his first priority in life and then his work which had taken him away from his kids so many times. His family was a sweet one and his wifes death came as a tragic shock to all of his family and his wifes. He had to adjust his life and make sure the kids were taken care of, that he could work for the things they needed in life. But it wasn't all about money, in this book, we see that money comes and goes, but the genuine time needed to be with family is priceless. He watched his little 13 year old Riley bloom into a beautiful young woman. His 5 year old son Levi loved to blurt out things and watch movies and play board games with his dad, what a pleasant family pass time. Their little Price family had gone thru many ups and downs and his children did not fully understand the extent of their mothers accident and lifestyle.
Jane the nanny was able to connect with Riley and Levi and she grew to love them as her own. It's funny how Jane is adopted and her mother she was raised by was able to love her, nurture her even though she was not her birth mother. And here Jane comes and begins to love these 2 kids who are not hers, as her very own. Very interesting indeed~As Jane becomes closer to the kids and their father, she realizes that there is more to their little happy family than what Asher portrays. Susanna his late wife was stunningly beautiful and always looked prestige and glamorous, yet there bits and pieces that Jane couldn't put together about Susanna's life with her family. Pictures of Asher looked as if he were so lonely in his marriage to Susanna. Jane didn't have all the answers and quite friankly she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. As her mother told her before she left Houston, some things are better left alone..hmm.
As the story progresses, Jane and Asher have this attration and they both sense the feeling. Both of them are in the laundry room and Asher is frustrated that Levi wet in his bed and he's complaining to Jane and then he just reaches out and plants a big one on her..the forbidden kiss~
Do things work out between them? Does Jane get to find out who her birth mother is? Does she find out what kind of family and lifestyle the Prices lived, was it a happily ever after family or a family of deep secrets? You can find out when you read the book and find the answers.
This book when I read it, was one of those you just can't put it down and had to find out what happened next. I found myself in between the lights on my way to work, reading and I could see the cars next to me looking over, but I didn't care, those fricken stoplights take forever ugh~ I really enjoyed reading this book. But, I did feel like the author kind of described Susanna a little too much in the book for me even thought she was a main character. In this book, my heart went out to ASHER PRICE-SUPER DAD~He just loved his kids to pieces and at the same time was in love with Jane Aaron. He needed to find a place for all of them to fit perfectly in his life. FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A PERFECT FIT~
Big ups to Julia London for a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading your other novels.. Another fine author to add the list of great writers. THANK YOU~

"One Season of Sunshine

Monday, September 06, 2010

Dinner with Tahitians


Friday, September 3, 2010- Dinner at Black Angus with the visiting Tahitians. A delightful and pleasant couple from Papaete, Tahiti- Reina and Manu. They are good friends with my cousin Yvette and are staying for a few weeks on vacation with my neighbor and her family Denell.
We met up at Black Angus in Torrance, CA and had a great time and great food. Let's see in Tahiti they are accustomed to eating steak and fries so they ordered steak medium rare and that redness that oozed out of the steak was like whoa! I had prime rib medium well and it was great although I think next time I'll get medium rare but not as red. We had a variety platter with zucchini, wings, chicken tenders and other things I can't remember. We had cheese bread and wheat bread and so you know by the time the main course came I was getting full from the appetizers. But, I love when my cousin Yvetter orders appetizers, she always orders the best stuff guaranteed to be yummy. Her husband who we call "DOC" cuz he is a Doctor was there too so I had to go easy big time on the bread, but I'm such the bread eater UGH~ Gotta love the Doc haha~ But the food was great and the waiter was a cute Filipino guy with a name I can't remember and cute dimples. But, I told myself I'm over that phase of liking Filipinos haha..gotta move on, not a good memory to reflect upon haha~
Oh so it was Doc, Vett, Flo, Me, Bernz, Reina, Manu, Denell and To'a and everyone had an enjoyable dinner. Haven't been to Black Angus in a long time..Oh I do have to add that when it was time to pay for dinner Vett grabbed her wallet, Bernz grabbed her wallet and I grabbed my lip balm hehe..I'm younger so thanks for dinner cousin~~ I love my cousin~Great time!

Sunday, September 05, 2010

"Mochi Ice Cream"

Mochi-Ice Cream is rich and smooth dessert from Japan. This dough looking delicacy has green tea inside and tastes delish!
So we're on our way to our show yesterday, Satruday-September 4, 2010 at Imperial Beach and Mike says, "lets stop by and get some mochi ice cream." I'm like what is that? He says, " its a Japanese dessert with ice cream in it.' So I'm game for trying out new things. So we get to Makiaki Sushi place or something like that in El Segundo and we order some Mochi. I get Green Tea and Mike gets Strawbery falvored ice cream. The outside is a dough like ball with powdered sugar on the outside and when you bite into it there's ice cream. The outside dough is like a gelly texture but the ice crean inside is great! So thanks for the Mochi experience!
From the Japanese culture, I love their SUSHI, that stuff is just the greatest with California Roll being my favorite from Sakae Sushi in Gardena, CA. I think my next favorite sushi spot is Fusion Sushi in Manhattan Beach and Torrance, CA..Great sushi, but I love their tempura better! My next sushi spot is Tamashiro's in Hollywood, CA. Its set up on a hill and you can overlook the city. The environment is nice and the food is good, kind of pricey and thats why I usually go when invited by family haha! I always get Green Tea ice cream when I eat sushi and seems to be my favorite Japanese dessert.
I'll try to experience something new every week..Until then, enjoy some SUSHI!!

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Seminar- BLOGGING 101 AT CHA FOR TEA


Wednesday, Septemer 1, 2010
Today is the day we have our seminar- Blogging 101 is in session. We planned to go together to CHA forTEA in Long Beach to get a cram session for how to improve our blog pages and get nice lay outs and all that good stuff. The individuals in this seminar are:
Rowena-owner of The Book Scoop, Everyday Wena and other blog pages
Tita- supporter of all of our blog pages and dear friend
Ralph-owner of RalphMisa.com and photography
Mike-owner (well not yet) o Adventures of Milke blog
Haven (Bnice)- owner (not yet) of My Safe LittleHaven
Together we form the "The 5 Cha Tea Drinking-Book,Photograph Blogging Patrons" I had a great time just catching up with everyone with our everyday lives, jobs, books and good conversation! Nothing like sippin on some sizzurp..oops I mean Black Almond Tea with Soy Milk, No Boba..good stuff! I"m so glad that everyone enjoyed the smooth, sweet, delicate goodness of the tea. I've been an active drinker since last year when I was introduced to the addicting stuff last year and boy has it become a part of my life ha! I'm not as addicted as my cousin Mike, but I do enjoy it immensely!
So we ordered our food, I had Tofu Curry yum, Ralph had sweet sausae, Wena had the steamed dumplings which reminded her of the movie, "Maid of Honor" with Patrick Dempsey HOTTIE!, Tita had the crispy chicken which is my favorite dish and Mike had Orange chicken, and why do I remember what everyone orders, cuz food is so easy to remember haha! But glad to say everyone enjoyed their meals and tea as well!
So on to the seminar of blogging. I'm terrible and am so lucky to have my girl Wena hook me up for my blog page. I just let her know what I want and walah..she does it..Thanks Wena! Mike,on the other hand, loves to do his own stuff for his blog page as he is more computer savy than I am. Ralph and Wena were showing him some things to do to spice up his blog page. But the whole nite was lovely.. Total laughs from beginning to ending. Come to find out, Wena does not work too far from Cha and has passed by it so many times eating at her spot with James (2nd Street Beauty) NOT, just kidding I mean L&L and the pizza joit next door to Cha. Lovin it!
So in the midst of eating ad drinking our tea, we start laughing because we're all thinking about my HORIZONS DANCE! Oh yea HORIZONS- WHERE THE SUN MEETS THE SKY-In my case its where HE MEETS HAVEN IN MY HORIZON-chanting...Haere Mai, Ha'u Mai, Komo Mai and OMAI to My Little Safe Haven..Enter at your own risk! If you're a hottie and this is your first visit, please step to the side so I can have a word with you in PRIVATE!!
Ne-ways, a lovely nite with good food, good drnks, good company and good conversation. Thanks guys and hope we can get together again and keep in touch!

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


The sequel to "Hunger Games"-"Catching Fire" is fantastic! I loved this book and although alot of the reviews I've read say otherwise, I can't stop thinking about how much LOVE I have for PEETA MELLARK and the book. He is the absolute love of my life right now, next to the teacher in GLEE. (Mr. Shu)

Characters:
Katniss Everdeen- District 12 Victor from Hunger Games
Peeta Mellark- District 12 Victor from Hunger Games, loves Katniss
Gale- friend of Katniss, loves Katniss (cousin in book)
Haymitch- Katniss and Peeta's Mentor for Hunger Games
President Snow- President of Capitol
Cinna- Katniss designer
Effie- Katniss and Peeta's scheduler
Finnick- District 4 Tribute
Johanna- District 7 Tribute

My Thoughts:

Katniss and Peeta have made it out of the Hunger Games ALIVE, not one, but both of them. The poisonous berries which Katniss had in her palm ready to devour with Peeta when the Capitol tried to tell them both that there would only be 1 Victor has caused an uproar in the Districts. Katniss without knowing what she started, acted off of pure human instinct with the berries, so the Capitol was not going to be mocked and had no choice but to let her and Peeta live and return home to District 12.

They both have different lives now. Their families move to Victors Village Homes where only 3 are used, Haymitch, Peeta and Katniss' family occupy the 3 homes because the 3 of them have won the Games. Haymitch won the games back in the day by using the force field as a weapon killing off the last opponent during his time in the games. Clever mind indeed!

President Snow, the Capitols president pays Katniss a visit, telling her, if she doesn't cooperate with the Capitol that Gale and those she holds dearest to her heart will die! So she tells President Snow (who smells of blood and roses) that she will cooperate. How tragic is that! What a deal, its no deal UGH!

Catching Fire was a sure turning point for the rebels in each district. Katniss was surprised that for these 75th Quell Games the Capitol was going to call all those existing victors to go back in to the arena and play in the games again! She was distraught and could not believe she was going to be thrown back in the very arena where her and Peeta fought to stay alive together. Preparations are made and it is between Haymitch, Peeta and Katniss, we obviously know since there has to be a girl and a boy from each district that Katniss has no choice but to participate and we know that Haymitch even if he tried to play in the games, Peeta would volunteer to fight in the games to protect Katniss. It's a given that Peeta really truly loves Katniss and will do everything in his power to protect her however possible, even to give his own life to save her from dangers way.

I just love Peeta for his loving ways and how he unconditionally loves Katniss. She is his first and foremost important priority in life! He says things to her that catch her off guard, saying his life won't be worth living without her in it, if he were to survive and return to District 12 without her. He tells her that she has people in her life that need her, Prim, her mother, Gale and he really has noone, his family can move on with his other siblings there for his parents, but Katniss feels a dryness in her throat and tells Peeta, I need you. She realizes that her goal in the games is to keep Peeta alive and she cannot let him die, he needs to return and live when she dies. But, it appears that they both are determined to keep each other alive!

I'm not surprised when Gale finally kisses Katniss in the woods. It wasn't romantic or anything but he just grabs her and kisses and tells her, I just had to at least do it once. Then they both act like it never happened. I can imagine how Gale felt seeing Katniss and Peeta carry on as a couple in love when really Gale loves Katniss and vice versa.

Alot of action occurs in Catching Fire and really too much to explain. Lets get down to the nitty gritty. An alliance is built under the planning of District 13, the head Game Planner and Haymitch. They plan a rebellion during the games but do not disclose this information to Katniss and Peeta. Katniss finds it strange that everyone is trying to keep Peeta and herself alive. Finnick, Joanna, and others all form an alliance to protect them in order for the rebels plan to work.

The plan was pretty kool to me, but I so didn't agree with them carrying out the plan with Katniss and Peeta unaware of the plot all along. I understand that it had to be that way in order for the plan to be convincing, but I can't help but feel the same way that Katniss feels, as if Haymitch and the others were just using her and Peeta as a piece for their own game. I totally understand where Katniss feels so betrayed by those she trusted and how she is full of rage and anger and doesn't want to cooperate with anyone.

It appears that everyone looks to Katniss as the "Mockingjay", her pin that was given to her from Madge for good luck. All the rebels use the mockingjay emblem as a token for their stand to unite and rebel against the Capitol. Of course, this is done on the down low! Alot of people have died who have stood up to the Capitol and their ways. One individual who made a great statement against the Capitol by using Katniss' wardrobe was Cinna. Katniss trusted him and enjoyed him being her stylist. He turned her wedding dress into a gray gown with feathers and wings to represent a Mockingjay Bird and she twirled and twirled in front of all the cameras for all the districts and the Capitol to see during her interview. Of course, poor Cinna was punished, but what a statement of hope he left for the districts to see! I heart Cinna very daring!!

There was a part in the book where we see Katniss' affection and feelings for Peeta come alive! Its the part where he shows Katniss the locket with the Mockingjay and it has pictures of Prim, her mother and Gale. Katniss is taken by his words that she has people who love her and that need her to return and he puts the locket around her neck. She is moved with emotion and not letting Peeta finish his explanation she hushes him by leaning forward to kiss him and he still tries to talk and finally stops as Katniss lets her feelings show for Peeta. She kisses him with real feeling and her emotions radiate to Peeta as they embrace each other and share that moment on the beach and then they're interrupted by Finnick! Oh well all good things must come to an end! But that moment was a great one! A real affectionate kiss shared by Katniss and Peeta. ( I CRIED, I WAS SO HAPPY!! haha)

Another part in the book, Haymitch tells Katniss, you will never in a thousand years deserve Peeta and she knows this. He really loves her and really wants to marry her! Keep the dream alive Peeta, you never know..HOPE FLOATS! Can I have a PEETA, just a little part of PEETA if I can't have the whole package deal haha! I have to admit I cried a few times for Peeta, just his dedication and love for Katniss is so genuine that I can't help but feel for him. He can't help himself but love her and she doesn't give him what he deserves, the affection or love given back to him..Its hard for Katniss, but I appreciate the little things she tries to share with him, generic kisses and holding hands, but he takes what he can get.

Does the rebellion plan work? Do Peeta and Katniss survive the games? I have left out alot of information, but I'll let the readers take a gander at the book and answer their own questions. I've just shared parts of the book that got my stomach churning for more and in Catching Fire, I felt more and more love for PEETA!

Tshirt says, "PEETA, he can frost my cupcakes anyday!" I love that!!

Onto reading, "Mockingjay", I know its gonna be great!

Friday, August 27, 2010

TSHIRT SAYINGS FOR HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY


There are alot of sayings for the HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY TSHIRTS. So I decided to jot down a few of my own sayings. They're probably already online as others may have been thinking along the same lines as myself with the sayings, but I just thought it would be fun.
TEAM PEETA
One that Wena showed me was :"Peeta can frost my cupcakes anytime"
Mine are: "PEETA, you make my buns burn!"
"Peeta, Peeta Katniss needs ya!"
TEAM GALE
"Gale can catch me in his snares anyday"
"Gale, show me your mine" District 12
KATNISS
"KILLER KATNISS"
"READY, AIM, SHOOT KATNISS"
"KISS ME KATNISS"
"DISTRICT 12 ALWAYS"
PRIM
"I'm with PRIM"
"Prim and mom can fix you up"
RUE
"RIP RUE"
"A ROSE FOR RUE"
CINNA
"MADE BY CINNA"
"CINNA-LISCIOUS"
HAYMITCH
"HAYMITCH-STAY ALIVE AND DRINK TO DEATH"
"HAYMITCH- THE MENTOR AND ALCOHOLIC- YOU CHOOSE"
EFFIE
"EFFIE, WHATS THE SCHEDULE"
CAPITOL
Wena showed me this one, I like it "Down with the Capitol"
"Capitol Corrupts, Mockingjays Murder Corrupt"
" President Snow, Bloody Hell meet ya there!"
"Gamemakers-Games OVER!"
REBELS
'Mockingjay Mania- I will survive!"
"Mockingjays take a stand"
LOVE TRIANGLE
"Peeta-Katniss-Gale -Let the games begin"
"Ride or Die District 12"
"Peeta-Bread, Katniss- Killer OR Gale -Snare Man- the choice is yours"
Well thats all I can think of for right now, but if I think of more, I'll definitely blog about it.

"TEAM PEETA OR TEAM GALE"


The Trilogy "Hunger Games", "Catching Fire", and "Mockingjay". These 3 books just gave me the best read of my life. Well I've only been an avid reader since 2010 and I must say that I'm still going at it, which for me is great! I don't know what I was thinking when I thought that reading was for nerds and a waste of time, what a fool I've been, but I've come to my senses and my senses like READING haha!
Ok, so what Team are you on,,Team Peeta or Team Gale. Some people are like this is not Twilight so there are no teams, but on the contrary, there is a love triangle going on here. Katniss who comes from a mother of medicinal background and her father from hunting skills, while Peeta has a background of Baking and frosting (so cute) and there's Gale background of hunting and making great snares (traps for game).
At this moment, I'm still reading Mockingjay, but I'm totally "TEAM PEETA." I don't know I"m a sucker for the cute underdawgs, who love someone despite the fact they know that the someone is probably already involved with someone or thins that the other person would never love them back. Peeta is just so totally in love and protective over Katniss. He would lose his own life to protect her and he wouldn't know what to do with himself without Katniss in his life..What a guy! I would like a PEETA, if I can't get the whole package then just a piece of him haha!
Gale is a whole different ball game in itself. He's strong, masculine and despises everything about the Capitol. He loves Katniss and she knows this and has the same feelings for him althought when she's with Peeta she gets confused. Theirs started out as a friendship and which clearly elevated to the next level of attraction and amor!! So althought I love PEETA, I still have MAD LOVE for GALE as well.
Katniss ,as in other books I've read where there are love trianges, always gets the 2 hottest guys fighting over her or she's so confusded she ends up loving both of them and spending time with both of them and kissing both of them and holding hands with both of them and UGH its tiring but she gets all the good stuff..haha! Am I jealous, you bet your bottom dollar daddy Warbucks I'm CAPITOL "J" haha!

Who will Katniss choose, is there an option for her? Do they survive the rebellion? Does she stick to her end of the deal and become the Mockingjay? Does she kill President Snow? Does Haymitch and the others survive? Does Peeta die in the hands of the Capitol? Does Peeta, Katniss and Gales family survive through the rebellion? So many questions, it all comes down to one thing...I gotta get the heck off this blog and fricken read to get answers. Oh I know I won't be disappointed..

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

"COUSINS- ME and MIKE"


My partner in crime, well not really but boy do we like to do the same things, alot in common. We both love music, we love church, we love romantic love movies, we love CHA for TEA, well him more than me, he's addicted ha, we love hangin out and having uplifting conversations, we both love to drive around- well he likes to drive, I like to sit and take in the air, we both love to lounge and watch dvd's all nite, and we both love FOOD..UGH!
We get along well and keep in touch daily, via text, email, phone or quick breas from Singapore Airlines ha~But, we are family and enjoy each others company which is great! When you have those few people you can count on and trust, you need to keep them within arms distance and keep the relationship afloat and stable.
Thank you cousin for driving me everywhere and feeding me and just being there whenever we both need a break from our lives ha~ Patience to endure everything we experience is a necessity and we are both greatful for our families and everything that life has put in our paths. We determine how our lives will be, so live life well and be greatful for life itself, I know I am. Thanks again for all you do and GOD BLESS with all your future endeavors, you deserve the best. Take care and much alofaz cousin...

"GLEE"


So I'm now an offcial GLEEK MEMBER. I know alot of people havebeen asking me if I watch GLEE and I always reply, no time. But, what a fool I've been for so may months. My friends thought that I would be one of the first people to watch it since I love music and sing myself, but NO I had to be a dummy and not watch.
So one weekend I'm at my cousin Mikes house and he plays GLEE and I'm watching and I love it. I love all the music they sing, the choreography is cool too. I love Rachels voice, she can blow~ I love Finn and his issues with Quinn and his cool attitide and he needs to fall in love with Rachel already; F Quinn her and Puck need to figure out what they're gonna do. Kurts voice is very on high tenor, but boy does he play his character to a tee. Artie, I like his voice and he's so blunt and straight forward craks me up. OK, nowthe teacher..Major CRUSH on him big time. He's so HOT in his own way!~I wish I were singing "Endless Love" with him on that episode and he wouldn't have no chance of running around the piano with me..haha! I love his voice and character and he needs to dump his wife Terri, who pretends a pregnancy, just wrong, dump her already! Sue the Cheerio coach, hate her but I guess they need a villain in every tv series UGH!~Mercedes the girl can sing, no doubt about it. THe other characters I'm not too familiar with but as soon as I purchase the first season, I'm sure I will be more familiar with all of their characters.
So my take on GLEE, Love it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves music and a good tv series..New Season starts September 21, 2010. Don't miss it~

Friday, August 20, 2010

"Slow Heat"


This is the second book of Jill Shalvis that I read and I enjoyed reading her books. Her romance novels catch your attention and are realistic with the whole relationships and issues couples face or pretend couples in this case as the book potrtrays Samantha and Wade.
Characters:
Samantha McNead-Heat PR, loves Wade
Wade O'Riley-Heat Catcher, loves Sam
Tag-Sam's nephew
John O'Riley- Wades father
Wade, the Heats star catcher, has helped them win many games and was getting paid a nice sum of money for working hard. Wades bad reputation with woman is costing the public eye to look down on the Heat, besides other bad media attacks they've had in the past. Their sponsors aren't happy with the bad media so the head McNead (Sam's father) and his associates set Samantha to pretend to be Wades girlfriend for a month to settle all the bad news spreading around the media. She reluctantly agrees to pretend to help the team of course and make the sponsors happy. Sam and Wade have history, sharing one passionate night in the elevator when it was stuck for one hour..They had a memorable night that she hasn't been able to live down and is ashamed but had no regrets. Her and Wade have that love-hate thing going on..
Wade goes along with the pretend to be girlfriend and boyfriend facade to make the sponsors happy, but we can clearly see what they are going through and feeling is not pretend, its all REAL! Even though they act like its all pretend and make cute and happy couple faces and kisses in front of the camera, they both know they have feelings for each other. During the whole pretend stage, Sam feels it in her gutt, that she is allowing herself to fall for Wade and bad too. At the same time, he feels the same way, but won't allow himself to accept it and has a hard time expressing himself as do all guys UGH..don't you just hate that..sheesh!
Sam is surprised when her brothers son (Tag) has become her responsibility since Jeremy (her brother) has gone into rehab. She's never taken care of a 10 year old before. She's been devoted to her job and has control of everything. Her young nephew has grown on her and she develops a sweet relationship with him and loves him. The thought of him leaving her in 3 months when his dad is out of rehab has her down, and not knowing where her relationship with Wade is going is even more heart wrenching. She knows she's the pretend girlfriend but things have changed. she loves Wade and she knows how he is, unsettled, always with different ladies and doesn't want to get her heart broken, but its inevitable.
After one month, Wade and Sam didn't have to play pretend girlfriend and boyfriend anymore and her job would be done. But, she didn't want it to end and neither did he. Wade was never clear to her what he wanted and they both admitted that they wanted each other, but Sam knew that he was the easy going guy and was not one for committment. Wade got along well with Tag, seeing himself the way Tag was, a young boy, needing to be loved and reassured that he would not be alone. Wades father who has been a drunk for 30 years, pops into the story nnd tries to make ammends with Wade after all these years. John (Wades father) wants to be a part of his life again and really tries to stop drinking. Wade has a hard time with it, but in the end he helps his father out.
One of the parts I loved was in the end, where Sam and Wade are slow dancing at the charity function and she stops and tells Wade, I don't want to do this. I lied. I can't do this. I can't fake this with you, not even for the team. Wade looked at her and said, I know. I can't either. When I'm with you, I can't fake anything. I've never faked anything. He whispers in her ear, its just us, there is an us. But it was Sam, Wade, John and Tag- they would be together..That was some good stuff.
It took him long enough geez! But, I get it and Sam wasn't the only one falling hard, so was Wade, he just couldn't get it all out and let her know. He wasn't even sure about himself having a committed relationship, but he felt different with Sam, and felt so real and relaxed that he knew she was the one to settle him, and with that, he let himself go and told Sam on a truth or dare that he loved her!
Another good book, by Jill Shalvis..thanks for the good reading..Enjoyed it!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

'Double Play"


This was my first time reading a Romance Novel by Jill Shalvis "DOUBLE PLAY." I enjoy sports and being that the focus of her novel was a baseball player, I was able to relate to the game, to the situation and most of all the "Playing hard to get and relationship frustration that the couple shared in this Romance Novel.

Characters are:
Holly Huchinson- Reporter, doing story on The Heat Baseball Team
Pace Martin - Star Pitcher for The Heat
Red- Heat Management
Ty- Relief Pitcher for Pace
Samantha McNead- PR for The Heat

Holly Huchinson is a reporter who digs up Secrets from organizations and exposes them for the betterment of the community and to give readers something good to read. Her last relationship ended on a bad note. She exposed his company and thus the company lost money, was sued and her ex-boyfriend was fired! So there went that relationship. I don't think she was really in love with her ex-boyfriend.

Her new assignment was to travel with "The Heat" baseball team and write about whats going on with them and most of all reveal any uncovered secrets. Her first person to interview the star pitcher PACE MARTIN. He was not a friendly chap at first. He does not like reporters and is just one of those guys, who loves the game and passion of baseball and thats pretty much all he's about. Holly tries her best to get an interview with him, but doesn't get it at the beginning. She has to work her way to getting an interview with Pace and in the meantime, she is getting to know who the real Pace is, off the record and about his personal life.

I love their crazy relationship and Holly finds herself falling for Pace HARD! He is irresistible and she considers herself OK, there is an obvious attraction between the two of them. As time progresses, they do get involved and they both admit that they are attracted to each other. As in all sports, the team really believes in superstition. So Holly finds herself in the shower room with Pace and they share a passionate kiss that awakens every fiber in her body and she's enjoying every minute of it. They are interrupted by the coach, RED, who says not before a game PACE..Too funny..Anyways, so Pace pitched a really great game and now the team is convinced that Pace has to kiss Holly before every game. The GOOD LUCK KISS!

Holly soon finds out, as the reporter, that some team members are using natural plants and powders to get them ready for the games, but they break down into Stimulants which are not allowed. Some inside information is leaked out about "THE HEAT" and because Holly is the reporter, everyone points the finger to her. By this time, she's already in love with Pace and wouldn't do that to him or the team, who have welcomed her with open arms. Pace doesn't believe that its Holly who is leaking out the confidential infomation about the team, but Pace has a difficult time trusting others and Holly. He does let Holly into his life but still has his reserves about her.

Samantha McNead is the Heats PR person and she was one of the first people who befriended Holly when she came on board as the reporter. When Holly gets frustrated with her undecided relationship with Pace, she turns to Sam and they both have a sweet tooth; so they do what comes naturally, they eat brownies and ice cream and discuss Hollys situation. Holly can't help herself, she is in love with Pace whether she admits to it or not. Pace can't get Holly out of his mind. His rotator cup on his shoulder is inflamed and rumors are going around that he might be out for good.

We find out that the relief pitcher TY is taking stimulants and admits to using. So he is under investigation and becuase Holly loves Pace she doesn't reveal who has been supplying Ty with the stimulants because Red (the supplier) has been like a father to Pace and it would kill him if any bad press came upon Red. So Red is able to retire from the HEAT with his dignity intact. Holly because of love, has changed as well. As with her ex-boyfriend she just went for the gusto revealing everything illegal about his company. But, with the heat, she only revealed what needed to be uncoverd and left the other details out of the press. So we see this human change in Holly due to LOVE! SWEET AS...as they say in New Zealand.,

My absolute favorite part in the book was in the end, when Pace from the field mouths to Holly who is in the stands, "I love you", and she says to herself, did he really say that, no couldn't be. Then towards the end of the game he jumps on the fence and yells to her, I'm trying to propose to you, and she says, I don't need a proposal, I only need you...Now that is something else..I loved that part.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading her other book, "Slow Heat." Another good Romance Novel Author I will be looking out for.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

"The Playground"


Gary Spatz, "THE PLAYGROUND", school of acting for young actors and actresses. August 15, 2010 was my first time taking my cousin Shannen to her acting class located in Santa Monica, CA and it was a nice place. There were so many kids there with their parents just waiting for their classes to begin. Gary, the owner, gave me and my uncle a tour of the studio; very nice.

The Westfield Outdoor Mall is right next door to the Studio so its an easy peasy little walk out the backdoor and window shopping from then on. My cousin and her husband showed me around as I will be taking my cousin to her classes and I had a great time.

They have a few of my favorite stores: Borders being the one that I know I will probably spend most of my time in reading, Pinkberry, I love the ORIGINAL YOGURT with Mango and Raspberry toppings, and the COACH Store, but I doubt I'll buy anything in there same as Bloomingdales, major window shopping there ha!

Its a different environment and lots and lots of EYE CANDY, we're talkin palagiz, latinos and other origins SWEET!

My other option is to stay in the studio and go in one of the managers office and just read, which I think is probably gonna be what I'll be doing when I don't want to take that little stroll around the mall by myself. It was my first time in the Westfield Mall and I enjoyed the atmosphere and loved the ambiance haha!

So it was a nice experience and look forward to going every week, just to take a breather and a break away from home..

Good luck to my cousin Shannen and her acting classes. Let's hope she gets discovered HOORAY!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

"The Hunger Games"


The Hunger Games, where do I start. First of all, I say how uneasy I was about the whole Hunger Games and how I wasn't happy about the competition to kill each other to survive. That so didn't sit well with me, but never the less because of all the great reviews I read and recommendations to read it, indeed i dove right in and read it. I must add, that I was not disappointed!

Characters:

Katniss Everdeen- District 12 Girl Contestant and good hunter
Peeta Mellark-District 12 Boy Contestant and Bakers son
Gale- Katniss' best friend and companion to hunt
Primrose- Katniss little sister
Rue- District 11 Girl Contestant

This books was great! It took me a little bit to get into the whole storyline, but with some intense focus, I was able to figure out what was going on and was immediately captured by Katniss' skill of providing for her family at such a young age and her great love her younger sister Prim. I instantly fell in love with the family bond I felt between the two sisters (Katniss and Prim).

Gale is 18 or 19 and has been good friend with Katniss from the jump. He was her partner in hunting, learning, helping each other survive by providing game for their families to eat daily, spending everyday together. Before the games, Gale tells Katniss, you know we can run away and live outside of District 12 in the woods. Katniss thinks about it and wonders why Gales says that. She doesn't bother to ask him, but the question lingers in her mind. She loves Gale, but is not sure as a boyfriend or a best friend.

There are 12 Districts and a boy and a girl(24 kids) ranging from ages 12-18 are chosen randomly lottery style to play in the Games. These are no ordinary ames these are the HUNGER GAMES, strictly a game of LIFE SURVIVAL! The winner survives and the rest die trying to live! Prim's name was chosen to participate in the games, but Katniss loving her sister, spoke up and insisted that she go in place of her little sister. This has not been done, a volunteer to play in the games was unheard of for a long time untl Katniss did. Prim was not happy about it, but Katniss knew she would not let her little sister be a part of the blood bath that would await her in the games.

Katniss goes in place of her sister and Peeta Mellark is chosen for the boy to represent District 12. Peeta has noticed everything about Katniss sinc she was 5 years old, but Katniss never knew this until they were struggling to survive in the games. Peeta loved Katniss the first time he saw her at age 5 in school. His feelings are real for Katniss and all along Katniss thinks he's pretending to please the crowd as they all watch the games on live TV. Haymitch (Katniss and Peeta's mentor)tells Katniss she has to pretend to be in love with Peeta so as to please the crowd and get sponsors for the games. She understands and plays into the love scenario. All along Katniss pretends to love Peeta, yet she gets confused at times and poor Peeta not pretending is really in love with Katniss and everything he tells her and admits to is TRUE from the GET GO!

One of my fave characters in the book is RUE from District 11 a young 12 year old girl, small yet clever to get away from her enemies. Katniss and Rue become friends in the Arena where the games are held and Katniss is immediately drawn to RUE because she reminds her of her sister PRIM. They become a team in the arena looking out for each other and when RUE is caught by a net she screams for Katniss and she runs to find her yelling her name. When Katniss sees her, a spear comes flying into the net and hits RUE in the stomache. Katniss shoots her bow in the District 1 boys neck and he instantly dies. This was Katniss' first kill in the games.
Katniss sees Rues wound and she knows that she will soon die. Rue is getting weak and she tells Katniss, "You have to win" and Katniss tells her, " I'm going to. Going to win for both of us now, I promise." Rue tells her to sing a song for her, as Katniss swallows back tears, she sings the song her father use to sing to her when she was young.

In this part of the book, I just lost it, as I am now, as tears flow down my face. I can't help but see Katniss singing to Rue's small, fragile body as she watches and witnesses her last breath of life! How tragic! At this point Katniss is determined to win the games for RUE! Katniss gathers flowers and adorns Rue's body with the flowers sending her off to her death with beautiful flowers. District 11 seeing this send down a gift of a loaf of bread as a generous thank you for Katniss. This has never been done by any District, but District 11 was very thankful that Katniss took the time to send off RUE with love and peace! I lost it at that point as well. Tears coming down my face for the generosity and love that District 11 showed to Katniss.

During the games, Peeta is wounded and hides and camaflauges himself in the mud for 2 to 3 days and Katniss with her killer instincts and survival skills finds him and aids him to survival. He is ever so greatful to her! She does her darndest to help him live with her so she won't be alone or die alone. Their relationship grows and she finds herself so dependent on him, not to help her with the hunting but to sustain her sanity in the games and being with him through the games till the bitter end. She realizes they need each other and their relationship blooms from then on!

Peeta Mellark is my absolute favorite character in the book. I love how he's so sincere about his feelings for Katniss and how he pre-meditates what he's going to do when he gets into the arena to help Katniss. When he confesses that he likes Katniss in the interviews before the games begin, you can already feel that he's not pretending, yet Katniss on the other hand doesn't see it, ugh that girl!

Peeta has saved Katniss one too many times even before the games began. He reminds Katniss that Haymitch said they need to pretend like they're cross over lovers and she can kiss him at anytime to make it look good for the audience watching. They excahnges kisses in the cave, but this kiss was real! Katniss thinks to herself and says, "This is the first kiss that we're both fully aware of neither of us hobbled by sickness or ain or smply unconscious. Our lips neitherburning with fever or icy cold. This is the first kiss where I actually feel stirring inside my chest. Warm and curious. This is the first kiss that makes me want another." How can you NOT know that you're falling for someone if you're wanting more kisses in the manner that makes your chest all warm and feeling that swoon moment, oh that Katniss gets to me at moments like this. Poor Peeta!

Peeta tells Katniss everything he remembers about Katniss from the first day of school to events that happened since they were 5 years old. He says ever since that first day he saw her, he's been trying to get up the nerve to talk to her 11 years later and no success, until the games. Katniss tells him, "you have a good memory" and Peeta tells her, "I remember everything about you, you're the one who wasn't paying attention."

This book was remarkable and the whole Hunger Games just took me on a wild run for life, hunger physically and mentally, finding those you can trust, getting rid of those you call enemies and the mere survival of trying to live one more day in the land of Panem. Do Peeta and Katniss end up together after the games? Does she end up with Gale? What does Gale think of Katniss and Peeta in the games exchanging kisses and love for each other? What does Katniss do at home? Are they all friends? So many questions need to be answered, and I'm going to find out! Join me to the next book by Suzanne Collins CATCHING FIRE..I'm ready!

"The First Cousins"




These are my first cousins from Fresno and Vackaville, CA. We all grew up together in good old CALIFOR-NI-A! You know it babee! We have alot of history together and they are like out sisters. I'll let ya'll figure out who are siblings and who are the First COusins, ha shouldn't be that hard, I'll give you a hint look at the volume of the person hehe just kidding I love my siblings to the death.

Through thick and thin we all manage to get along and love to talk about how we all grew up together and just basically had FUN with what we had. We didn't have fancy clothes or toys just made do with what was provided for us back in the day. Love the memories of being together in church, sleep overs and I might add our frst cousins house is the only place where we were allowed to sleep over,family rules! Enjoyed our childhood indeed.

After all these years, we are still close and try to see each other for the holidays. Everyone has their own families except for my older sister and I, still holding on to eternity when that lucky son of a bitc* walks into our lives and takes us away haha! Ne-ways, never the less we are all connected in the circle of family and first cousins love for one another..Gotta love families!

Our fathers have both passed on to the other side and so we all realize and understand that missing part in our lives without the HEAD of our families along side us, but we understand they are both watching over us and guiding us through this life. We miss and love them dearly..

RIP Tupai'i Barry Lavea and Mesepa Talanoa. Always and forever in our hearts!

I pray that our families will continue to love one another and aways find the time for each other to spend those holidays together..

UNITY STRENGTHENS THE HEART AND THE FAMILY

Love my First Cousins always :) Good times will never be forgotten.
Love ya like my own sistaz!!

Sunday, August 08, 2010

"HUNK OF THE MONTH-AUGUST 2010"



I have no idea who this hunk of a man is but he is my choice for "AUGUST-HUNK OF THE MONTH" I found his picture in my folder mypictures and I know I saved him there for a reason and here he is Mr. AUGUST HOORAY! Umm if any of you know him, please let me know because I have a feeling I'll be posting pictures up of my hUnk of the months and probably won't even know their names like this one UGh! Don't you hate that.

But he is yummy indeed! MR. AUGUST IN ALL HIS GLORY HA!

"The Other Guys"


I went to watch "The Other Guys" on Thursday night, August 5, 20101 the midnite showing. I was excited to watch it because it looked funny and had some good actors playing the lead roles. Marky Mark is what I still call him Will Farrell who is one heck of a funny dude..The movie was ok! I would give it a B. The storyline was funny, and I did get a few laughs but it just felt like it was missing some substance. The Rock and Samuel Jackson were in the beginning of the movie and then like 20 minutes into the movie they died, so that wasn't cool. The plot to solve the case was okay and the humor in it was average.

It turns out that Will Farrel use to be a Pimp back in the days at collegeg and then tries to push that side of his life aside but when things get tough he reverts back to his old Pimp ways to be the tough guy. Marky Mark shoots a famous baseball player in the leg and is transferred to do desk duties with Will Farrel. The two are total opposites, Mark beingt he aggressive on and Will being the book smart one. Together they team up forces to fight crime and eventually solve the case..

I wouldn't recommend this movie on the first midnite opening, I could have waited..But if you want to get in some laughs try it out!

Friday, August 06, 2010

"Something About You"


This is another one of Julie James Romance Novels and just like the other ones I've read totally loved it! I love that she writes about lawyers and attorneys the field of the LAW which Mrs. James is totally accustomed to being that she was a law practicing person.

Characters:
Cameron Lynde- U.S. Attorney
Jack Pallas-FBI Agent

The story line is wonderful and so is the love-hate relationship. Camerons father died in the line of duty on a small routine call which ended up being his fatal and last call. When her father died, she vowed to put away the bad guys, thus determined to do her best at her job. Jack Pallas an excellent agent worked for 2 years to put away the Martino gang and his affiliates as they worked the streets with illegal everything. Jack worked undercover for 2 years and even managed to escape Martino's men when his cover was blown. His case under the direction of his boss Silas was closed. Silas made Cameron go in and tell Jack that the case was closed before she could even explain to Jack he was already furious and yelling and told the press that "he thinks the U.S. Attorney has her head up her as*." And that was the last thing Cameron remembered from Jack. He was then transferred to another state to work, but he didn't know that Silas his boss wanted him thrown out of the force, but it was Cameron who went behind Silas' back and had Jack transferred and not out of a career. All this time Jack thought Cameron was the one who had him transferred for 3 years but if it weren't for her he would have been out of the force.

After 3 years Jack is able to come back home and work. Cameron and Jack before he left had a little attraction for each other but both didn't pursue, instead they became enemies. Cameron decideds to get soem ME time and rents a room at a hotel, but little did she know she was sleeping next door to the room where a murder has taken place, so she is now a key witness, not seeing the murderers face but seeing him from the back. And who shows up to work on the case and has to protect her none othe than Jack Pallas her enemy from 3 years ago...gotta love it.

As time goes on, Pallas has to spend alot of time with Cameron to protect her as she is the main witness, he finds himself staring at her and watching her every move, noticing little things she does and falling for her. At the same rate, Cameron being around Pallas all the time is falling for his rugid, tough guy, excellent agent tactics herself. They are both into each other but won't allow themselves to get caugh up in each other. I love that part of the book where they know they want each other but still yet play it cool and try to resist each other.

I enjoyed this book because of the way they both were trying to do their job yet at the same time they were trying to resist each other. Does Jack Pallas solve the murder case, are they able to defeat all odds and be together? These questions and more can be answered when you read the book. I love Cameron and Jack Pallas as a couple so lets hope they get together..Find out in the book.

Thank you Julie James for another wonderful Romance Novel..

"Sonny with a Chance"


July 18, 2010 finally came and I was waiting to watch the new series of "Sonny with a Chance", from Disney. I really like this Disney show and I like Demi Lovato and Sterling Knight . They are so cute together. From the beginning episodes they were on rival TV Shows, Sonny on "So Random" and Chad on "McKenzie Falls", so cutey and probably because I'm such a fan of the whole "Love-Hate" Relationships.

This episode someone is trying to set up and sabotage Sonny to make her out to be a criminal, character thief, a gold coin thief, an untrustworthy girlfriend and a phony. Someone has cleverly turned Sonny's friends against her and the only one who really believes her is the girl who loves attention and claims she doesn't like Sonny, but she really does, and decides to help Sonny get to Wisconsin in time for her to shoot the cheeseball cannon (an honorable school event), the person is none other than Tawny, Sonnys dressing roommate.

Everything unfolds and we find out that there was a person who has been jealous of Sonny all along and how she loves Chad and will stop at nothing to get him. This person was with Sonny when she went shopping and was arrested for shoplifting, she was with Sonny and heard Chad tell Sonny his secret about fortune cookies, she cleverly took the coin from Nikos shirt pocket and slid it into Sonnys jacket, she left all evidence on Tawny's dresser of all the bad things she did to try and turn everyone against Sonny even the blue print of the Cheeseball Bomb..we find out that this person is none other than Penelope...the actress who plays in sketches with Chad..she hijacks AIR CHAD's plane with the cast of "So Random" with Chad on the plane and tells Chad to go away with her and they can live together forever and that she loves Chad, but Chad chooses Sonny..Penelope leaves the plane with the only 2 parachutes and jumps off.

Ne-ways, long story short, Sonny gets to the school event in time to shoot the cheeseball through the canon, but the crew from "So Random" realizes that Sonny will be setting off the real cheeseball bomb..they rush over and Sonny has already lit the canon, Chad runs on the stage to push Sonny away from the canon and Zora stops the lite from igniting the bomb. Tawny gets in front of Sicky Vicky (the character that Sonny made up, but was accused of stealing) and rips the mask off of her face and we see Penelope underneath the disguise..Tawny knew it was Penelope because of her comfortable Pilot shoes haha too funny!

So in the end, they catch Penelope, Chad saves Sonny, the crew told Sonny she's back on the "So Random" show because she was kicked off due to all the drama Penelope raised trying to sabotage Sonny, the media was involved. Tawny gets her 3 minutes on camera, NIko and Grady realize Sonny is not a thief and Zora realizes she is not a good Sherlock Holmes haha! So that was that until the next new episode.
Gotta love me some "Sonny with a Chance"

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

"The Maid of Honors"




Now these two beauties are my girls along with my dawg Mulu. Known them for a long time as sisters in the hood of church and the circle of friendship! They were the Maids of Honor for our friend Mulu Vega. I love these girls and we all have our own different relationships with one another.

Theresa "TITA" - love this girl, funny, understanding, loves Starbucks, I love to go dipping with her, able to talk to her about anything and one thing we both have in common, we love to sing..preferably Soprano ha!

Rowena "WENA" - love this girl, book smart..literally loves to read and thanks to her I've become one of her book geeks and just can't stop reading..love, love, love it..thank you for broadening my horizons, funny, charming, able to email and talk about anything..one thing we both have in common we love, love, love us some PALAGIZ for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert..no problema..ha!

As with Mulu, even though we don't hang out every week or go out together we all have that understanding of who and what we are with each other. I've grown to get to know these fine young ladies and hope for nothing but the best for all of them including me haha!

Just wanted to give a shout out to the girls..Much alofaz amigas por vida!

"Nothing But Trouble"


This was my very first time reading a Rachel Gibson Romance Novel and I loved it! I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author. Her book reminded me of Julie James' books, although Mrs. James books are centered around the characters in the line of duty of LAW, which is great!

"Nothing But Trouble" was a joy to read! This book really had me on my toes and anxious to see how it was going to play out and end. Of course, my favorite endings are "happily ever after", but for some reason towards the ending of the book, I was beginning to think that things weren't going to be as happy as I imagined. Hence, the reading went by even quicker for me ha!

Characters:
Chelsea Ross- actress, Personal Assistant to Mark Bressler
Mark Bressler- professional hockey player for Chinook, injured in car accident and ended his career
Bo- Chelsea's twin, PR for Chinooks Hockey Team
Jules-Assistant to Chinooks Owner, Bo's man

Chelsea is the main character and I loved her bubbley personality and outgoing whit. She wore bright colored clothes, mostly loose blouses due to her bustline and mini-skirts; she is a short girl 5"1". She is an aspiring actress from L.A. and moves in with her sister in Washington to look for employment while she waits for gigs in acting. Her sister Bo tells her there is an opening to be a Home Health Aide for Mark Bressler, famous but injured Professional Hockey player. Chelsea is no nurse, but she has been a personal assistant for years in Hollywood, so she's accustomed to working for celebrities. She sets off to Marks house the day before she actually is hired to start to meet him and when she introduces herself to him, he is very short with her, rude and tries to persuade her to leave that he doesn't need a nurse..Prior to her meeting Mark, the Chinooks organization tells Chelsea that there is a $10,000 BONUS if she can stay with him for at least 3 months as his track record with Home care nurses is less than a week. She was determined needing and wanting that money badly. They start off bad, but because Chelsea has a peppy attitude and really needs the bonus money she is determined to stay even if he is a jerk-face with alot of money, handsome, an awesome body and angry attitude always; just a mad at the world guy!

Mark is a very unpleasant client and in a sense I don't blame him for feeling the way that he does. I mean come on, the guy was the top hockey player and got into a bad car accident and was lucky to be alive! He understands he survived the accident, but what was worse, surviving the accident, or surviving and not being able to play hockey for the rest of his life? He was divorced, his wife wanted more money and social status, so she married an old man with more money to get her things and get into country clubs, what a joke, but unfortunately there are women like that, so sad! Mark wasn't a nice guy due to one day having everything in the world, to one day waking up and everything is gone from him, everything he loved the game of hockey and his never satisfied wife which he was divorced from for over a year and was over her, no hurt there!

Chelsea begins to work with him, setting up appointments, and not taking no for an answer, she stands up to him and makes him do things that he usually wouldn't do like get up out of bed at times. In a short period of time like a week, he's already having fantasies of Chelsea which is something he hasn't had in a long time. They both start noticing each other and are easily attracted to one another although each one tries to deny and fight the feelings.

She falls in love with Mark Bressler and they have a great time together, but in the back of her mind she knows she needs to tell him about the $10,000 Bonus they offered her at the beginning of her assignment. The day she was planning to tell Mark that she wasn't really interested in the money because she wanted to stay of her own will because well she fell in love with him it was too late! Mark had an appointment with the Chinook Organization and they told him about Chelsea's Bonus! He was furios filled with anger and couldn't wait to get home to let her have it. They argued and she tried to explain to him that yes at first she was doing the job for the $10,000 Bonus but after working for him everything changed because she loved him, actually fell in love with him which she was trying to stop but couldn't help herself,. In her whole career as a personal assistant she never mixed her professional life with her social life and with Mark it was different. She had it bad and told him she loved him! He laughed in her face and told her she was lying and stop acting. She told him "you made me love you even when I knew it was a really bad idea. You made me love everything about you. You made me love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my whole life." That was no act! She really loved Mark and he was standing before her making a mockery of her sincere feelings towards him! Man, I hated Mark at that point in the book UGH! She never pleaded with any other man and said, "I love you." "Mark looked into her eyes and pounded the last nail into her heart, " I don't love you." Aww. man was that good stuff or what...I was crying during that part in the book. I mean BLIMEY, the woman is pouring her heart out to him and he just sits there and doesn't even care! I don't know if I would go to the extreme as Chelsea did, but he was roughten. Granted he was hurt, but he should have known that she was not acting, it was the real deal..
I lost hope in the relationship at that point. She was miserable for days...The story gets even better but lets just say you have to read it to find out how it ends.

I really enjoyed this book. I was really emotional and I could see how Chelsea was so distraught as Mark Bressler tore her heart apart! Then I sit back and think, are these relationships worth it? Does having your heart ripped and torn to pieces really make the next relationship better or have you learn something from it? I felt for Chelsea and shed some tears of sisterhood with her..

Thank you for the great Romance NovelRachel Gibson. I will definitelty read your other ones...A real roller coaster of emotions, gotta love it!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

"An Offer You Can't Refuse"


Another great book from Jill Mansell, a chick lit that I enjoyed thoroughly! The beginning caught my attention right away with the offer that was not to be refused. The author wasted no time in the beginning getting right down to the nitty gritty.


Lola and Doug are from two totally different upbringing and lifestyles, opposites attract would fit their situation very well. Lola and Doug are young and in love. Dougs mother does not want Lola in her sons way of accomplishing his dreams of an (Ivy League School) as we would say in CALI. They spend the whole summer together just doing what couples do having fun , enjoying their young teen lives together. Lola and Doug are inseperable. Doug gets ready to take a tour of the school he will be atteding and Lola is at home working in town. They have plans to spend their weekends together since Dougs school is a ways from town and if that doesn't work then Lola would move up with Doug so they can be together. Perfect plans!

Things change over night and Lola takes off with her friend hundeds of miles away from their little town and doesn't give Doug any explanation just a letter that she's leaving and things are moving too fast for her. It a very sad parting indeed. Really felt bad for Doug. He was so in love with Lola and doesn't understand what happened. Things were going so good for them and when he returned home from his visit to his new school in Dublin Lola is gone with no good byes, no nothing.

10 years later, Lola returns home and Doug and his family are still there. Her father has since passed away leaving her a good amount of money to live off of. She was an avid reader and gets a job at a bookstore. Her co-workers have bright personalities and in time, Lola becomes the manager. As the story progresses, she eventually bumps into Doug and all those feelings she felt for him 10 years ago jump right back into her as if she were a young teenager agan. She still loves Doug, but does he love her? Is he married, is he with someone else, how and what is he doing with his life? So many questions Lola has in her mind, will she be able to get the answers? Does Doug hate her for breaking his heart on the day she left him and why did she leave, he still doesn't know. What is the "Offer that can't be refused", who amde the offer?"

There were times in the book where Lola got on my royal nerves with her " I gotta keep on tryng attitude" so determined to get what she wanted, but sometimes I wanted to say girlfriend give it a rest, you did all you could do and leave it at that.

Gabe, Lola's best guy friend, was a nice character to follow in the book. He was there for Lola thru thick and thin, in her time of need, etc. His lifestyle was interesting and his lifes experiences were very different to follow. I enjoyed his character!

Doug got on my bad side too at times by trying to put up this I don' care attitude because he never got over the break up. He was cruel at times, but deep inside I knew he was just acting out of anger, understandable!

Doug's sister, Sally, was a joy. A bit spoiled but had a great " I'm gonna do what I wanna do" attitude which is what kept her going in life. She became good friends with Lola and in the story she was able to do things different in her life for the better!

I too asked these same questions mentioed above and they are all answered in the book. I enjoyed this book for the suspense and for the other characters in the book that made the book so fun, and a beautiful love story!

Jill Mansell does a great job of developing her heros and heroines in the story. I aso love the way the other characters have their own drama and storyline to tackle which along side the main characters just makes the story that much more interesting and captivating!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

"MULU AND PEDRO VEGA"


CONGRATULATIONS TO MULU AND PEDRO VEGA SEALED FOR ALL TIME AND ETERNITY!!
JULY 24, 2010 - I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU DAWG! I'LL MISS YOU BUT ITS TIME FOR YOU
TO START YOUR NEW JOURNEY IN LIFE!!

Mulu Lokeni now Mulu Vega is happily married to Pedro Vega. I've been friends with Mulu for awhile now and even though we dont hang out everyday or communicate everyday we still know how we are without words. She deserves the best! Faithful to her testimony and values in the gospel, good friend, very funny, good dancer and loyal and trustworthy amiga por vida! I wish her the best with her husband and pray that they will through thick and thin have a happy relationship centered upon the Love of God First..Aighty Mulu dawg, have a good one and keep in touch. Much alofaz!

Love ya muchisimo!