The good daughters

This was a moving well-written book that switched perspectives between Ruth and Dana, birthday sisters born on the same day in the same hospital. This bond (more or less forced by Ruth's mother Connie) keeps pulling them together randomly about once a year while they grow up and a bit more sporadically as they grow up.

Each chapter is a snippet of one of the girl's life at a certain time and then the next chapter is a snippet of the others around that same time period.

For two girls born on the same day in the same small town, they are quite different. Ruth is tall and skinny, an outcast in her family. Her mother and her sisters all seem to bond and get along but not with Ruth. No matter what she does her mother always makes her feel like an outsider or that her amazing art skills are just that amazing. Connie is quick to remind others of Ruth's sister's Snoopy drawing and how it was included in the paper before giving Ruth credit for her skill.

Dana has a complete helter skelter family life. She and her mother, father and brother move frequently and her dad is always hopeful is next idea will hit it big. Her mother Dana is an artist who buys every Barbie possible for Dana who only unwraps them when Ruth Plank comes to visit. At a very young age Dana realizes she likes other girls and that this isn't something other little girls find normal. She loves growing things and works hard to save money to put herself through college.

I will say that the 'problem' of the story was completely figured out by me by page 17 but it didn't make the journey of their tale any less interesting. I really enjoyed it and would read other books by this author.

Do you know someone who was born on the same day/same hospital as you?

I received this book from Crazy Book Tours and all thoughts and opinions are mine!

Sunday Comics

I don't generally read the comics but as I was browsing the Detroit Free Press today I saw this one and I just had to share it.

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Thank you Mike Thompson. ;)

And I especially like how he says, "If you disagree with the idea that teachers are entitled to the benefits of a union, please feel free to employ the spelling, punctuation and writing skills you learned from teachers in the comment section of my blog." (source)

A-freaking-men.

On a side note, does anyone else feel as though the people who comment on news articles never make any take them seriously with their LACK of common sense / grammar / punctuation.

And on a union note, I am not even a 100 percent gun-ho union person, nor am I current member of a union, but I do respect and stand up for theirs and others working rights. And the Wisconsin governor comes off as a douchebag who won't accept a legitimate compromise. But, that's neither here nor there.

Anyhoo, remember you got to where you are because of a hard-working teacher.

Shanghai Girls - Discussion #4

This is the last discussion for our February Group Read, Shanghai Girls. Spoilers are a given. This encompasses the whole book, so if you've read it in the past or have read bits and pieces, jump on in to discuss!

My thoughts

I ended up liking this a lot more than I started to in the beginning. Though, I was irritated at some of the thoughts/ideas of the books but that just makes it a good book, it made me think and feel, right? I really don't even think I had a favorite character. They all let me down at one point. Pearl, because she just wouldn't stand up for herself and just live, May because she was so freaking spoiled and self-absorbed, Sam because he took the easy way out and Joy because she was an idiot. I also wasn't a fan of how it ended.

Questions from BookBrowse

1. Each sister believes that her parents loved the other sister more. Who is right about this? Why?

When they were fighting over this, I felt they both had favorable arguments about why the parents liked the other one better but I think as in many parent/child relationships they liked different parts about each girl the best.

2. Pearl says that parents die, husbands and children can leave, but sisters are for life. Does that end up being true for Pearl? If you have a sister, to what extent does the relationship between Pearl and May speak to your own experience? What's the difference between a relationship that's "just like sisters" and real sisters? Is there anything your sister could do that would cause an irreparable breach?

I can't really fathom this type of relationship that these sisters have. I would have been exasperated and done with May a long time ago.

3. There are times when it seems like outside forces conspire against Pearl—leaving China, working in the restaurant, not looking for a job after the war, and taking care of Vern. How much of what happens to Pearl is a product of her own decisions and choices?

I say 50-50.

4. The novel begins with Pearl saying, "I am not a person of importance." After Yen-yen dies, Pearl comments: "Her funeral is small. After all, she was not a person of importance, rather just a wife and mother." How do you react to comments like these?

It must be sad to see yourself that way.

5. Near the end of Shanghai Girls, May argues that Pearl and Sam have withdrawn into a world of fear and isolation, not taking advantage of the opportunities open to them. Do you agree with May that much of Pearl's sadness and isolation is self-imposed? Why or why not?

I think it is a mix of some self-imposed and some of the world around her/others. Also, like in any situation people become familiar with what they know/where they are and what not. Change is hard.

Thanks for participating in another group read! I love hearing other people's opinions about books and checking out books I normally wouldn't. Next month's book is In the Woods by Tana French and we will be discussing the first 6 chapters next Friday! If you would like to guest post/compile questions ahead of time send me an email by Thursday and I will include it in Friday's post. Or, if you want to discuss a certain aspect I always have space for guest posts throughout the week! ;) Have a great weekend!

New Address!

My blog has moved to http://www.themanythoughtsofareader.com/ so make sure you change your settings!! Though you should be redirected. ;)

28 Weeks

Sorry about the blurry pic. I had my hubby take it this morning cuz I knew I would want to put my pjs on as soon as I got home (and I did haha) but he did not have patience so the pictures were all blurry. And I meant to take a new one myself and then came home exhausted and fell into my pjs and onto the couch whoops.

How far along? 28 weeks

Weight gain/loss: +6
Maternity clothes? I can still wear some regular shirts and comfy pants but it is mostly maternity.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep? When I fall asleep I am dead to the world
Food cravings: Anything sweet

Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? She is kicking away as I type
What I miss? I really need a margarita or a Corona

What I'm looking forward to: Getting the dresser in mail and setting it up

We did get our travel system, extra car seat base and our pack n play in the mail this week! My husband's parents got them for us as our shower gift. They are still in the boxes downstairs. Don't really know what to do with them yet hahaha.

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Here is a picture of our Travel System. It is the Chicco Cortina in Fuego. The carseat goes up to 30 pounds woo woo and the stroller goes up to 50. I really like it and it closes up nice and compact and is not bulky like so many people seem to complain about travel systems.

Sadly, I did not pass my Glucose Screen so I have to take the 3 hour test. I just missed the cutoff so I really am not worried, just irritated I have to take the time to go do it and pay for more tests. wooo funnnnnnn. not.

March Group Read is...

In the Woods by Tana French! We had a tie but using random.org In the Woods came out victorious!

from goodreads.com
A 12-year-old girl is found murdered at an archaeological site at the center of a controversial highway construction project. Katy Devlin was a popular girl who had recently been accepted to the Royal Ballet School; her father is an outspoken opponent of the new roadway. But what haunts Detective Rob Ryan about this case is its location: the quiet town of Knocknaree, Ireland -- in the very woods where he used to play as a child.

Twenty years ago, a young Rob and his two best friends went into the woods, chasing each other, playing in a castle of ruins. But they didn't return to their homes at sunset. A search party was dispatched to canvas the woods, finding only a catatonic Rob clawing at a tree, his clothing ripped, his shoes filled with blood.

Detective Ryan has always guarded this secret of his past, but the recent murder forces him to reveal it to his new partner, drawing them closer together in the search for the perpetrator. Is there a connection between Rob's childhood trauma and Katy Devlin's murder? And is Detective Ryan prepared to confront the secrets that lie deep in those woods? Suspects abound in this fast-paced mystery -- a stunning debut that examines the complexities of the human mind and the cost of discovering the truth.

I once again divided the book up into 4 sections for 4 different discussions. If while you are reading, you would wish to make a guest post about anything in the book, let me know. If you have questions/things you want included in the post on Friday, email me sometime the day before so I can add it in. I have the large print edition of In the Woods because it was the only copy left at my library, so I will be off page wise from most of you. I broke it up by the chapters. If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

In the Woods Discussion 1 – Prologue through the end of Chap 6 – March 4th
In the Woods Discussion 2 – Chapter 7 through the end of Chap 11 – March 11th
In the Woods Discussion 3 – Chapter 12 through the end of Chap 19 – March 18th
In the Woods Discussion 4 – Chapter 20 through the end of the book – March 25th

I really think this will be a good read. I have heard many positive reviews of it and am interested to get reading. Hopefully, it is easy for everyone to get a copy!

Homemade Mac & Cheese with Smoked Sausage

Friday I was trying to decide what to make for dinner. I kind of felt like cheesy pasta and I knew I needed to include meat SOMEHOW or my husband wouldn't know what to do with himself. I had some Eckrich Smoked Sausage in my freezer and I was googling pasta recipes to use with it when I decided a homemade mac and cheese would be delicious with the added sausage. I went to allrecipes and looked over their mac and cheese recipes because I'm still not sold on any one homemade mac and cheese recipe and used this one as a base for what I was about to make.

Ingredients
• 16 ounces whole wheat penne pasta

• 1 pound Eckrich Sausage
• 2 cups shredded Mild Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Crushed ritz crackers
• paprika
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder

• Salt and pepper

First, I preheated the oven to 350 and cooked the pasta as directed.

I cut up the sausage and removed most of the skin from it. Then I followed the directions on the sausage package and cooked it in a covered pan for about 8 minutes in 2/3 cup water.

Meanwhile, I was working on the sauce. In a saucepan, I melted the butter and then added in the flour. Stirred it really well and slowly added in the 3 cups of milk. Make sure the heat is on medium heat or it will take FOREVER to warm up. I made the mistake of lowering the temp after I melted the butter and it was driving me crazy waiting on the milk to warm up enough to melt the cheese. Speaking of the cheese... After I stirred in the milk I slowly stirred in the cheese, one cup at a time. Then I added salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika to the mix.


Then in a greased casserole pan I poured in the noodles and the sausage and mixed it up. After the mixture thickened up I stirred it in with the noodles and sausage. Then on top I crushed Ritz Crackers to form a bread crumb layer and sprinkled more cheese and some paprika on top. Then I threw it in the oven for 25 minutes and when I pulled it out it looked like this.

Verdict? It was delicious!!!!!! Very very yummy and gave us lots of leftovers. I really liked how creamy it was. Definitely would try to use different cheeses next time, but of course I just used what I had as per usual. Sharp cheddar would probably be delicious in it. Very very yummy!

What kinds of cheese do you like to put in homemade mac and cheese?

Shanghai Girls - Discussion #3

This Discussion covers the chapters from Eating Bitterness to Find Gold through the end of The Air of this World. There will most likely be spoilers and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. I am reading the large print edition so my page numbers will most likely be different than yours.

Quick Recap

China City burns down and the Louie family loses money and has to rebuild. Also, Sam and Pearl learn more about each and how to trust one another. It is revealed that Sam is a paper son and with a few conversations with Yen-Yen, Pearl realizes Old Man Louie is not who he says he is either. May continues to be a spoiled rotten brat and begins working in film and gets Joy to work with her as well. Pearl miraculously gets pregnant but sadly loses the baby.

My thoughts

I was very disappointed but not surprised when Pearl was given the role in the film and May 'stole' it from her. It really angers me that they continue to give in to May and no one just says no, get over yourself.

I also find all the racism against other people mildly amusing and also irritating that people were and still are so stupid when it comes to people looking different/being from different countries. We all were new at one time or another people, maybe you and I personally have been here forever but at one point it was YOUR ancestors being ridiculed, denied opportunities and being discriminated against.

Questions from BookBrowse

1. Shanghai Girls makes a powerful statement about the mistreatment of Chinese immigrants to the United States. Were you surprised about any of the details related to this theme in the novel?

2. There are times when it seems like outside forces conspire against Pearl—leaving China, working in the restaurant, not looking for a job after the war, and taking care of Vern. How much of what happens to Pearl is a product of her own decisions and choices?

3. Pearl encounters a lot of racism, but she also holds many racist views herself. Is she a product of her time? Do her attitudes change during the course of the story?

You can check out Discussion 1 and Discussion 2 by clicking on the links. Also, next Friday will be the last Discussion and cover from Fear through the end. Don't forget to vote in the sidebar for next month's pick. If anyone would like to guest post on anything about Shanghai Girls or share thoughts to be included in next weeks post email me by next Thursday.

Sweet Potato Fries

OMG these were delicious and super easy!!! Yay..

Ingredients
1 – 1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp paprika
¼ tsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 425.

First, I peeled and cleaned 2 sweet potatoes. This was a PERFECT amount for the two of us.

Then I cut them into strips.

Then I put them in a resealable plastic bag. Poured in the olive oil, cinnamon, paprika and salt. Then I shook it all around and made sure all the fries were coated. Then threw them on a baking sheet in a single layer. I put them in the oven and turned them every 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes cook time.

They looked/tasted/smelled delicious!!!!!

Verdict?- definitely doing again! super easy and good.

What is your favorite way to eat sweet potatoes?

Poll is up for the March Group Read!

27 weeks!

Sorry, no pic again this week. I came home from tutoring and immediately hopped into a hot bath so I kind of forgot.. whoops.

How far along? 27 weeks
Weight gain/loss: +5
Maternity clothes? same as before.. all pants that are worn of the house besides sweats..more maternity tops are making their appearance
Stretch marks? nope
Sleep? only comfortable on my sides but my vertigo makes side sleeping iffy and my back hurts if i lay in one position too long..fun times
Best moment this week? getting a bunch of clothes from my mom's friend and hearing that she is measuring on target and scheduling my next ultrasound
Food cravings: anything sweet
Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? Yup a lot
What I miss? being comfortable and being able to walk without my innards feeling as though they may fall out
What I'm looking forward to: taking my glucose screening test and other tests to get that out of the way