November Book Club Meeting/Tara's Surprise Baby Shower

This months meeting was so relaxing and enjoyable! I hosted at the New Bern Library and also planned a surprise baby shower for Tara.

Brittany and Sarah came up with some really cute games and we all brought some SERIOUSLY YUMMY food!!!

Thanks to ALL that came and helped make it such a great night!

November Book Club Meeting

Just wanted to remind everyone of our November Book Club Meeting.

November 22nd 6:30-8pm
New Bern Library - Conference Room
Please bring a appetizer to share!!!

Also, if you have not turned in your book to Wendy,  please bring that evening.

October Book Club Meeting

I cannot believe that we're already into October! This year has flown by.
Wendy Savitz hosted our October book club meeting at Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant. We had a WONDERFUL turn out!!! Thanks Wendy for planning a such a fun night out.


This months book with be, Kabul Beauty School, here's a brief synopsis of the book.

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus an idea was born.


Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.

October Meeting

Please make sure to RSVP to Wendy or myself for this weeks Book Club Meeting!

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan DVD

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan will be released on DVD November the 1st. I'm hoping to be able to rent it somewhere and have a "movie" night at my house! More to come......

September Book Club Meeting

Sarah Green hosted this month at the Mi Cabana restaurant in Jacksonville. A few of us were able to make it out from New Bern and had a wonderful time and a delicious lunch! Thanks Sarah for a great meeting!

This month we will be reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Our next Book Club meeting will be on Tuesday October the 4th, Wendy Savitz will be our host. More details to come!

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

DONE!

Fastest book club read ever--finished yesterday!

Great Line

Just started the book (I'm on page 87)--the best line has to be on page 16:

"I see you've confused what you're learning in school with actual education." -Baba

haha

The Kite Runner - August Book Club Pick

Tara Funk hosted for the month of August and she choose The Chelsea to meet at. GREAT pick, awesome food, downtown restaurant, super fun!!! Tara choose The Kite Runner for our monthly pick and made the cutest and most yummy candy to go along with her theme, even Bookmarks!!!! Thanks so much Tara for making our August meeting FABULOUS! 

August Book Club Meeting

Recipes from the River...

Thank You for a lovely evening on the river. I hope you all had a good night. So far, I am liking

"Life of Pi". Here are the recipes from Thursday Night.

Teriyaki Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Recipe by Our Best Bites (ourbestbites.com)
*2 chicken breasts
*Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce (I used Ken's Teriyaki Sauce-It was cheaper)
*2 stalks celery, finely chopped
*1/3 C sliced green onions
*1/4 c. sliced almonds
*1 mango (or 1 small can of Mandarin oranges, drained)
*1 small can pineapple tidbits
*1/3-1/2 c. light mayonnaise
*Salt and pepper to taste
*Croissants or pitas
*Lettuce leaves Marinate chicken for at least 4 hours. **Grill.** While chicken is grilling, combine celery and green onions in a small mixing bowl or a plastic storage container with a lid. When chicken is done, allow to stand for about 10 minutes and then cut into bite-sized pieces. Toss with celery and onions and then add mayonnaise and mix thoroughly. Start with 1/3 c. and go from there. Add 2-3 (or more) tablespoons of Teriyaki sauce to taste. The thickness of the Kikkoman Baste and Glaze (or the homemade recipe) is important because it helps keep the dressing from becoming too runny. You want to add some of the yummy Teriyaki flavor, but you also don’t want it to be overwhelming. Refrigerate for several hours. Right before serving, add mango, pineapple, and nuts. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You may need to add more mayo and/or Teriyaki–if you need it, go for it! Serve on a lettuce leaf in a croissant or a pita (or by itself if you feel the urge!)
* * I put 1 bag of frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot,covered it with Teriyaki sauce,and kept the crock pot on high for about 5 hours. I then shredded the chicken with a fork.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Ingredients
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn, drained
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, partially drained
2 tomatoes, diced
2 bunches green onions, chopped
cilantro leaves, for garnish
Directions
In a large bowl, mix together black beans, Mexican-style corn, diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, tomatoes and green onion stalks. Garnish with desired amount of cilantro leaves. Chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.
Ingredients
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn, drained
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, partially drained
2 tomatoes, diced
2 bunches green onions, chopped
cilantro leaves, for garnish
Directions
In a large bowl, mix together black beans, Mexican-style corn, diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, tomatoes and green onion stalks. Garnish with desired amount of cilantro leaves. Chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

** I refrigerated for about 4 hours,and it was perfectly chilled and not runny. For extra yumminess,serve with "Hint of Lime" Tortilla Chips.

Enjoy!

July Book Club Meeting

Julys Book Club Meeting was so relaxing and perfect for our next read. Lauren made chicken salad sandwiches, salsa and chips and watermelon and Brittany made some yummy chocolate chip peanut butter ice cream sandwiches.
Lauren has chosen  Life of Pi by Yann Martel. So excited to read this one!!!

Book Club Meeting info for July-November

Hey Ladies!!!

This months meeting was super fun, so happy so many of us were able to make it! Thanks again to all those that have hosted so far. 

Lauren has picked July 7th 6:30-8:00pm to host a meeting. She will be sending out invitations and surprising us with the next book club read!!!

Tara, Sarah, and Wendy - We have August, September and October left. If you guys could please pick which month you would like to host and get back to me so that we can get you all penciled in. I will be hosting again in November for our last Book Club Meeting for the year. We can go over all the books we've read and prepare for the new year. There will be no Book Club meeting in December. We will resume again in January.  I will find out if they have added any new books to the book club kits at the New Bern Library and then add those to the current list we have.

*** Tara will be hosting in August!!!!
*** Sarah will be hosting in September in J-Ville, we can all carpool down.

Thanks so much for making this Club possible and FUN!!!

Carrie

June Book Club Meeting at the Accidental Artist

Carla and Amy hosted our June Book Club Meeting at the Accidental Artist. We had soo much fun painting, visiting and snacking on yummy treats. We have such a great group of girls!!!

Sarah Green, Wendy Savitz, Brittany Hoffman, Amy Martin, Carrie Dixon
Carla Miller, Melissa Young, Tara Funk, Lauren Simmons

Our book for the month of June will be 

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

May Book Club: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Thanks everyone who came out tonight! It was a lot of fun. For those of you who couldn't make it, I do have a couple of copies left. Below are the Reader's Guide questions for this book. Hopefully they will spark some conversations at the next meeting.

1- In your opinion, is Lily, who is the narrator, the heroine or the villian? What are her flaws and her strengths?

2- Do you think the concepts of "old sames" exists today? Do you have an "old same" or are you part of a sworn sisterhood? In what ways are those relationships similar or different from the ones in nineteenth-century China?

3- Some men in nineteenth-century China apparently knew about nu shu, the secret women's writing described in Snow Flower. Why do you think they tolerated such private conversations?

4- Lily writes her story so that Snow Flower can read it in the afterworld. Do you think she tells her story in a convincing way so that Snow Flower can forgive and understand? Do you think Snow Flower would have told the story differently?

5- When Lily and Snow Flower are girls, they have one intimate-almost erotic- moment together. Do you think their relationship was sexual or, given the times, were they simply girls who say this only as an innocent extension of their friendship?

6- Having a wife with bound feet was a status symbol for men, and, consequently, having bound feet increased a women's chances of marriage into a wealthier household. Women took great pride in the feet, which were considered not only beautiful but also their best and most important feature. As a child, would you have fought against having your feet bound, as Third Sister did, knowing you would be consigned to a life of a servant or a "little daughter in law"? As a mother, would you have chosen to bind your daughter's feet?

7- The Chinese character for "mother love" consists of two parts: one meaning "pain" and the other meaning "love", In your own experience, from the perspective of a mother or a daughter, is there an element of truth to this description of mother love?

8- The author sees Snow Flower and the Secret Fan as a novel about love and regret, but do you think there's also an element of atonement as well?

9- In the story, we are told again and again that the women are weak and worthless. But were they really? In what ways did Lily and Snow Flower show their strength and value?

10- Although the story takes place in the nineteenth-century and seems very far removed from our lives - we don't have our feet bound - do you think we're still bound up in other ways; for instance, by career, family obligations, conventions of feminine beauty, or events beyond our control such as war, the economy and natural disasters?

11- Because of its phonetic nature, nu shu could easily be taken out of context and be misunderstood. Today, many of us communicate through e-mail, or instant messaging. Have you ever had an experience where one of your messages has been misunderstood because of lack of context, facial or body gestures, and tone of voice? Or have you ever been the receiving end of a message that you misinterpreted and your feelings were hurt?

12- Madame Wang, the matchmaker, is a foot-bound woman and yet she does business with men. How is she different from the other women in the story? Do you think she is considered a woman of status or is she merely a necessary evil?

Carla Miller's getting to know you

1. Why were you given your particular name? 
Well,on threat that I was born,my great uncle Carlos died so my daddy named me Carla Melissa, I was called Missy til middle school.

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

Read!!!!!!! Paint,swim,listen to music

3. What is your favorite food?

Salad, I love it anyway.


4. What is your favorite book.
Hum.... That is a hard one. It's a toss up between The Twilight Saga and Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know....that is a huge difference but like I said I love to read.

5. What is your favorite kind of music?

I love indie alternative, some rock, some oldies example are: Coldplay, my chemical romance, Eric clapton,van Morrison,the cure,the bravery and trust me folks I could keep going.

6. When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

again, read! Catch up on t.v shows SLEEP!

7. What is your favorite candy bar?

Carmelo

8. What place would you like to visit?

Italy or Spain, those are my next trips to be take,not sure when that will be but someway somehow it will happen,even if ihave to sell a kidney.

9. What are three adjectives which describe
Determined,funny,short......my brain is not working enough to come up with anything witty,dang I should have said witty!

10. What do you want to be doing in ten years?
1. I hope to survive three teenage daughters, 2.work doing hair 3. travel travel travel!


kids!

Melissa Young's getting to know you!

1. Why were you given your particular name?

• My mother liked the name Melissa, no real story there. However, I was given my middle name after an aunt who was not supposed to be able to have children. She ended up having two boys.

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

• I really enjoy going on outings with my children. Exploring the new areas we get to live in.... basically making memories.

3. What is your favorite food?

• Mexican dishes are so YUMMY. My all time favorite food though has to be ice cream!

4. What if your favorite book?

• Without a doubt..... Gone With The Wind.

5. What is your favorite kind of music?

• This is tricky because it all depends on my mood. My IPod is an eclectic mix of Alt. Rock, Contemporary, Oldies, "angry white man music", Country ballads with a smattering of Hair Bands. Because you gotta mix it up!

6. When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

• If I have a chance to actually sit down, you can catch me reading or watching whatever I have on the DVR. (I am a reality show addict!)

7. What is your favorite candy bar?

• Not really a candy bar, yet LOVE me some M&M's.

8. What place would you like to visit?

• Would love to take a tour of several places in Western Europe, Ireland, England, Germany, Italy.

9. What are three adjectives which describe you?

• Persistent, family-oriented, outspoken

10. What do you want to be doing in ten years?

• Living back in Utah close to family and enjoying David's retirement. Most importantly, hopefully I will be surviving my kids growing up and moving out.

Mays Book Club Date!

Getting to Know Sarah

1. Why were you given your particular name?

• I am named after my great-grandmother Sarah Maggie Wolverton. My middle name is also a family name. My grandfather was Eugene, my dad is Randall Eugene, and I am Sarah Jean.

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

• Watch movies with my family, although Jack has sucked the fun out of going to the theater. I'm anxious for the day he'll actually sit through a movie at the theater.

3. What is your favorite food?

• PIZZA! I don't care how unsophisticated it is, I can't get enough of it.

4. What is your favorite book?

• Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

5. What is your favorite kind of music?

• Mainly Alt Rock - my favorite bands are Eve 6 and The Killers. I have a little bit of everything on my iPod though, from Selena Gomez to Beethoven.

6. When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

• Read or catch up on episodes of Bones or NCIS.

7. What is your favorite candy bar?

• Mini Reese's peanut butter cups

8. What place would you like to visit?

• France

9. What are three adjectives which describe you?

• Smart, Dependable, Kind

10. What do you want to be doing in ten years?

• Surviving the teen years with my kids and hopefully teaching full-time again.

Getting to Know Brittany

1. Why were you given your particular name?

My parents already had a boy name picked out (Jamie) but could not decide on a girl name. Close to before I was born, my mom was reading in a book and saw the name Brittany and loved it. My middle name is Lucille, from my mom's mother. I hated it when I was a kid, but now I love it.

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

EAT!!! I loooove trying new restaurants. I also love to travel--but not fly so much...

3. What is your favorite food?

I might have to go with Italian--love me some pasta!

4. What is your favorite book?

I actually love The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I have read that one several times and it never gets old for me.

5. What is your favorite kind of music?

Depends on my mood or activity. Some examples: a mix of angry female country (i.e. you cheated on me and then I killed you) and Lincoln Park for when I workout. I'm not gonna lie, I enjoy a classec Prince song while driving somewhere completely alone and I can turn it up and try to sing as high as he can.

6. When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

Read, get online, call a friend/family memeber, or finally sit and catch up on my guilty pleasure tv (any real housewives shoe)

7. What is your favorite candy bar?

SNICKERS!

8. What place would you like to visit?

France for sure. I also think Australia would be fun.

9. What are three adjectives which describe you?

spontaneous, deceptively intelligent, tired

10. What do you want to be doing in ten years?

Possibly teaching again--I really loved it. And preparing for an awesome trip somewhere--without the kids!

Getting to know YOU!!!

Carrie Dixon

1. Why were you given your particular name?

• My mother loved, 'Little House on the Prairie', so she named me after Carrie-Anne.

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

• I have 2 : Shopping & Reading

3. What is your favorite food?

• Mexican, love me some good hole in the wall Mexican joints!

4. What is your favorite book?

• 'The Road', by Cormac McCarthy

5. What is your favorite kind of music?

• I like all kinds but I really do enjoy some alternative ROCK baby!!!

6. When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

• I either read, clean or jump online.

7. What is your favorite candy bar?

• I love a fresh Milky Way.

8. What place would you like to visit?

• Italy

9. What are three adjectives which describe you?

• Diligent, Thoughtful, & Adaptable

10. What do you want to be doing in ten years?

• Laying on a beach somewhere drinking a Pina Colada and relaxing!

~ Now copy this post and rename it and answer the above questions too!!!

Question

While reading The Shack (I am only in Chapter 5), I came across something that made me wonder. On Page 75 Mack says, "I've always sort of pictured him as a really big grandpa with a long white flowing beard, sort of like Gandalf in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings." Here's the wonder part: would the average person have included the author's name in that sentence? Who has not heard of Gandalf or Lord of the Rings to where someone would need to insert the author?! Especially since, in this case, Mack was talking to a close friend of his.

So I guess the real question is, do authors have a code of conduct in which they give each other "shout outs" if specific work is mentioned in their books?

37th Street Pizzeria Book Club Meeting

2nd Book Club Meeting ~


For our March Meeting Brittany planned a FUN night at 37th St Pizzeria. The food was fantastic, friends are awesome, and GREAT conversation and laughs! So looking forward to every single Book Club Meeting. For the month of Feb we read "The Friday Night Knitting Club", it was an easy and light read. The ladies in the book formed lasting friendships, enjoyed each others company, and helped lift each other up. It was a great way to kick off our Book Club! Our Next book is Brittany's pick, we will be reading "The Shack", by William P Young. So looking forward to reading this book!

Its about time for a Book Club!!

1st Book Club Meeting ~

I had been thinking about starting a book club for awhile. Finally after chatting with friends and getting through the holidays (and loads of work) I was able to put together our 1st Book Club Meeting! We met at my house, went over the rules for our Book Club, ate some yummy food, had some good laughs and handed out our 1st book, "The Friday Night Knitting Club", by Kate Jacobs. I am super stoked and looking forward to getting together monthly with such great gals and of course READING!!!