Mini Getaway!

Hubby and I are headed for a mini getaway to Florida. My parents have a place in Kissimmee so we are meeting them there for the holiday weekend. I plan on laying by the pool, relaxing with my mom and reading lots of books. This was me last time we were there and I plan on doing the same thing this trip.

My mom and I will get a mani/pedi one day but other than that she and I will be poolside while my dad and Hubby golf. Here are the books I'm packing to read:

Summer Cleaning!

I did some major closet cleaning this weekend. Take a look at my ebay auctions here. Some nice dresses for the upcoming wedding season. :)

An Angel!

I just had to share this picture I took this weekend of my adorable niece Evie.

Book Review - If I Am Missing or Dead

This book caught my eye in Target one day because of the title, "If I Am Missing or Dead." After reading the back I was even more intrigued because it was a true story about the murder the author's sister. I decided to buy it and add it to my reading list for vacation. The book was so interesting and kept me wanting to read more and more. I actually had to stop myself from reading it the one day because it was my last book and I wouldn't have anything to read on the last day of vacation. I want to warn you the book is very intense and covers topics that are very emotional and sometimes hard to read about. This memoir chronicles the life of Janine Latus from childhood through adulthood and the tragic murder of her sister. It's an amazing story and I can't believe that she lived through everything that she did. Below is a description of the book. If you are interested in reading it let me know and we can do a book swap.

In April 2002, Janine Latus's youngest sister, Amy, wrote a note and taped it to the inside of her desk drawer. Today Ron Ball and I are romantically involved, it read, but I fear I have placed myself at risk in a variety of ways. Based on his criminal past, writing this out just seems like the smart thing to do. If I am missing or dead this obviously has not protected me...

That same spring Janine Latus was struggling to leave her marriage -- a marriage to a handsome and successful man. A marriage others emulated. A marriage in which she felt she could do nothing right and everything wrong. A marriage in which she felt afraid, controlled, inadequate, and trapped.

Ten weeks later, Janine Latus had left her marriage. She was on a business trip to the East Coast, savoring her freedom, attending a work conference, when she received a call from her sister Jane asking if she'd heard from Amy. Immediately, Janine's blood ran cold. Amy was missing.

Helicopters went up and search dogs went out. Coworkers and neighbors and family members plastered missing posters with Amy's picture across the county. It took more than two weeks to find Amy's body, wrapped in a tarpaulin and buried at a building site. It took nearly two years before her killer, her former boyfriend Ron Ball, was sentenced for her murder.

Amy died in silent fear and pain. Haunted by this, Janine Latus turned her journalistic eye inward. How, she wondered, did two seemingly well-adjusted, successful women end up in strings of physically or emotionally abusive relationships with men? If I Am Missing or Dead is a heart-wrenching journey of discovery as Janine Latus traces the roots of her own -- and her sister's -- victimization with unflinching candor. This beautifully written memoir will move readers from the first to the last page. At once a confession, a call to break the cycle of abuse, and a deeply felt love letter to her baby sister, Amy Lynne Latus, If I Am Missing or Dead is an unforgettable read.

Cuties

Don't I have the cutest little nieces in the whole world!

Book Review - L.A. Candy

The first book I read on vacation was LA Candy by Lauren Conrad. I heard really great things about this book and thought it would be the perfect beach read. I was right! I really enjoyed this book. The book is fiction but definitely mimics the experiences Lauren had when she was on the reality show, The Hills. I was a big fan of The Hills when Lauren was on the show so I enjoyed the insight on what is was like filming the show...even if the book is fiction you know there is truth behind the "staged scenes" and "planned friends." I plan on reading the sequel Sweet Little Lies when I'm in Florida at the end of the month.

Here's a summary of the book from Amazon -

Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.

L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.

Vacation Recap

We had a blast in Curacao. It was a much needed relaxing vacation. I wasn't feel the greatest during the trip but still had a great time. I got to do my favorite things - lay in the sun and read! I read three books on the trip...reviews to come soon. Here are some pictures from the trip.

New Years Resolution Month Four Update

1.Be Healthier - I am so on track with this resolution and I feel soooo good. I'm down six pounds and dropped my body fat percentage 4 points. I'm just one percentage point away from being out of the normal category and into the lean one. I attribute this success to eating healthier and constant exercise. My personal trainer has helped a ton. I'm going to be done working with him at the end of May but plan on using everything I've learned with him daily. My goal is to meet with him one or two days a week just to get a really good workout in. One of the most exciting things was to put on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in a while.

2.Be consistent with running - I've switched back to running longer distances. I met my goal of running the mile under 6:30. Now I'm back to running 3-5 miles at a time. It feels good to switch it up.

3.Focus on my blog - So my blog posts are lacking...I know. Work has just been so busy and well the blog is the first thing to get neglected. I can keep saying that I will be better about posting but truth is, I'm not sure I can. I hope to post at least once or twice a week. I've hit 180 followers which is great. Only 20 more to 200.

4.Cook at home more - No new exciting recipes this week. One of my favorite new dinner things is grilled chicken salad with lemon/olive oil vinaigrette. Lots of flavor and healthy.