it's my girls' world

This has been a summer of reading and I've loved every.single.minute of it. Here's a recap of a few of them...

I might be the only one ever but I didn't love, love Me Before You. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but I just couldn't get through the idea of physician assisted suicide which I  don't believe in.  It was a beautiful love story though and I did enjoy seeing the movie.

I know not everyone liked this one but I loved how it all tied in together and I found my curiosity so peaked at what happened that was making everyone act like that. I enjoyed the story and the complexities in each character and I found myself rooting for different people at different times. 

Another popular book that was just meh for me. It was fine. Lots of characters but once again, I battled with the decision Leo made towards the end of the book and what it cost him. I might have abandonment issues or something, but I dunno… it was just okay.

This was quite a good book from one of my favourites where we see how two sisters dealt with the death of their brother for the years after. Though I didn't totally enjoy the two characters' flaws, I understood them. I also like how Emily brings in characters from older novels and tells you what's going on with them. I was pleased to get updated on my favourite (fictitious) couple Andy and  Ellen.

I was excited to read this one as I'm a huge bachelorette fan but I did not enjoy it. It was disjointed and I couldn't handle her style of writing though it certainly did provide a little inside scoop on Andy's break up after The Bachelorette. 

My favourite author scores again! Another good Elin read, this one about three ex wives  and families of an NYC chef and how they deal with his death. A great captivating read with lots of little twists and turns.

This was  my favourite book so far this summer. It's about a tennis player who wants to get to the top of her game so she makes some hard, often morally questionable choices. It also offers an insider's look into the competitive tennis world which I loved!

Any other recos for light reads? We're also starting a book club in our neighbourhood this month so suggestions for selections are also welcome.

Happy Thursday folks! Day 4 of my 21 day fix and I'm still standing. 

Linking up with Amanda.
 and Andrea, Erika and Narci for Favourites on Friday (1 day later)

I ask and they answer, Here what the kids behind the blog had to say this month...

 What is your favorite sport? Why?

C- Gymnastics 'cause it's fun to do, and I'm flexible!

A- Skate when I grow up

If someone gave you a million dollars what would you buy?

C- An Xbox so that we can play Just Dance.

A- lipstick

Tell me 3 things that kids do better than mommies and daddies. 

C- Annoy people and have fun

A- play with a play phone (?!)

  What is your favorite thing to do in the fall?

C- Jump in leaf piles

A- I don't know.

C- I'm pretty flexible, I'm so good at reading and I have a pool (?)

A- I don't know.  Lipstick, I used to have play lip stick, I like phones and I like people to come over and play.

(Apparently all she heard was 'you' and 'like' and she came up with the list) When prodded, she then replied 'My sparkly shoes')

Linking up with 

 Beth and some other lovelies!

Come on... admit it, we all tell a little white lie now and again. But now, my friends and family reading the blog will know-- and I'll be busted. Here are just a few of the little white lies/omissions that that I though I'm generally a straight shooter, I may or may not tell from time to time...

1- When I say I'm five minutes away from picking someone up, I'm really more like seven minutes away. It's a weird one I know but  I'm usually early and people usually take longer than five minutes to get prepared so I still end up waiting for them when I do get there.

2- Sometimes I may not always agree with what my friend is complaining about but I don't always call them out on it unless it's really glaringly wrong. Depends on the situation but I think that being kind is sometimes better than being right.

3- I never tell someone when they put on weight... I've had a few people tell me when I do -- and it is so, so sad :-(

4- I tell my kids I have no money when they want something from some sort of candy machine... but then there was that time when my then six year old told me that I should start working more so I could make more money to buy her bubble gum

5- Speaking of money, I used to be so excited to show D my purchases but then he just told me to hide them so he doesn't have visions of our bank account diminishing. 

6- I don't give my kids candy all the time but sometimes I sneak a piece (or three) of chocolate into my mouth and when they ask what I'm eating I say 'nothing!'

7- Our kids believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny but there was that time that some neighbourhood kids told Cassia there was none of the above... I replied, " Hon, you know that Santa only comes to good kids' houses, right?" Not winning any parenting awards for that one, I know!

There we go. My deepest darkest secrets! What are a few of the little lies you tell?

Linking up with Shelly and Katy today for Spiel The Beans! This should be a good one ladies! Can't read what the others have to say...

We walked around town and D found a vintner. His plan was for us to do a tasting here, then based on our varietal of choice, get some recos on the wineries to visit as there are so very many to choose from and we wanted to head a bit off the beaten path.


We walked around town for a bit and visited some of the little stores before getting dressed for dinner. #filtersareamazing


Based on the vintners' recos, we headed to Bistro Don Giovanni for some salads and pasta.... oh and chocolate cake... because really vacation eating is the best and the worst-- all combined!

Some delicious tastings





After it was a quick lunch, a walk through Calistoga and a tasting at the Miner Family Winery atop a hill overlooking acres and acres of vineyards. Such a wonderful way to end our day of tasting. It was at this point, I decided to drive to let D enjoy the tastings. I ended up driving for most of the trip after since the winding roads weren't the greatest for my motion sickness.



Back to the hotel, freshening up and then we were on our way to Zuzu for tapas for dinner- I love tapas just like I love appetizers for dinner. That way you don't have to commit to one thing but instead can taste lots. Their flounder ceviche was so, so good!!


And then Day 2 & 3 of our trip were complete!! Fun times with my sweets :)

Happy Friday, lovelies. Our last weekend before our 21 day fix!