Weekly Lovelist: My Birthday, Shopping + More!

What a great week this is!

My Birthday!
Okay, so I may not be fully embracing the whole getting older thing, but it is my birthday tomorrow nonetheless and it should be celebrated, right?

I never really have huge birthday plans, so just being able to hang out and celebrate it without anything bad happening is a huge plus for me. I had a few really bad birthdays (and was quite sick on a few too), so as long as neither of those 2 things happen – it is a good birthday for me!

Gluten-free birthday cake and gluten-free pizza for my birthday dinner! I guess I am pretty easy to make happy, huh?


Shopping
I really don’t have the extra money to spend on tons of clothes and stuff like I wish, but every now and then I stumble across some great deals and things I just simply cannot live without. I know it happens to you too, right?

Here are some of the things I’ve recently purchased:


Michael Kors dress (in pink) which I am wearing on my birthday!


Calvin Klein workout outfit.


Cute shirt but needs some altering.


Vera Bradley purses that were on sale. I was looking for a Vera Bradley messenger bag for school, but their website was sold out and I couldn’t find any I liked elsewhere.


So You Think You Can Dance
You know how I love this show. Well, this season I actually called in a few times to vote and for the finale I voted for Lauren to win. Guess what? She won! I was quite happy.



The Sims 3
I've been able to play more of The Sims 3 for some articles I was able to write. Check them out here:

Walkthrough for The Sims 3 World Adventures - http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80484.aspx

Guide to Careers in The Sims 3 - http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80735.aspx

The Sims 3 Gothic Lots to Download - http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80431.aspx

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson is a novel about May Seymour who just graduated from college and had no idea what to do next. I’ve been there, so this particular book really hit home for me. If you’ve been there too, this book is for you!

Book Description
May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet and no idea what to do with it. A mission trip to Rwanda brought her a sense of purpose in loving others. So when the genocide began she chose to remain in the village, which was subsequently slaughtered. Only May survived.

So, May journeyed to heal on the farm of Claudius Borne, a sweet, innocent old man who understood plants and animals far better than people.

Years later, having not stepped a foot off Claudius' farm, May learns an old college flame, now a death-row inmate, is refusing to appeal his sentence. Can she convince him to grab hold of life once again? Their surprising friendship turns the tables, for the prisoner, Eli Campbell, has a deeper faith from which to draw than she. Eli slowly begins to pull May from her cloistered existence. With the help of Eli, their tiny town, and ultimately a renewal of faith, May comes to life once again.


My Thoughts
Not knowing what to do in life is something I think most people struggle with at some point in their life. In this story, May is there and with the help of being healed by Claudius and the faith she attained while on his farm, she finds herself – and helps another find themselves again too.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson is a great story that really captures the feelings of May. It moved a little slowly at points, but overall the flow of the book quite worked with the story. It is a great story that is perfect for reading a few chapters at a time.




* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Victoria 2 Review

Victoria 2 is a new strategy game released by Paradox Interactive. This video game allows you to play a country during the colonial era in the 19th century. You are in control of everything from the colonization, military conquests, industrialization, politics and much more. What you do impacts the population and if they don’t like it they will revolt!


Features:
• Deep engrossing political simulation with dozens of different governments
• Detailed economy with over fifty different types of goods and various production factories
• Over 200 different countries can be played, during the era stretching from 1835 to the onset of WWII.
• Advanced Technological system with thousands of inventions to discover
• Improved graphics and interface, as well as multiplayer support
• A streamlined interface makes the game easily accessible.
• Automation of various tasks including, trade and population promotion.
• Advanced spheres of influences system, where the great powers battle over the control of the world.
• Cottage production simulating pre-industrial economies.
• Gunboat Diplomacy, no need for negotiating as a fleet outside a port may be a more persuasive argument.
• Historical and Dynamic missions guiding your country through the history.

My Thoughts
I love city building games and simulation games. I’ve even quite liked some country ruling and fighting strategy games. Victoria 2 is a grand game for all those who enjoy this style of gaming.

It offers long and sometimes intense ruling of countries and overseeing the population of your country. It is not something that is easily beaten in a day or even a weekend. This is a game that once started and enjoyed has a long playing life – which is really what most gamers are looking for, right?

However, it is not directed for the gamers who prefer to experience things on a closer level such as in The Sims or Sim City type of games. Not to say that those gamers wouldn’t like it, just that it is different. Maybe that type of gamer would prefer Majesty 2 if looking for a new simulation game.

Overall, I liked Victoria 2. It is a newer style of game for me, and something that I am glad I tried out. Expanding your horizons in video games is also a good thing. I recommend it for everyone who likes this kind of video game and also for those that may not or are unsure – give it a shot!






System requirements
• Windows XP/Vista/7.0
• Intel® Pentium® IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+
• 2GB RAM
• 2 GB hard disk space, NVIDIA® GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon® X1900 video
• card,
• Direct X-compatible sound card,
• DirectX®: DirectX 9
• 3-button mouse,
• keyboard, speakers,
• Internet connection for multiplayer
• MULTI-PLAYER UP TO 32 PLAYERS





* Thank you to the publisher of Victoria II, Paradox Interactive and Gamers Gate for providing me a digital copy of this game and allowing me to review it.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman is a Southern style story that will have you drawn in from the first few chapters. CeeCee Honeycutt lives life in a way no child her age should have to, and when she is rescued by her Great Aunt Tootie and whisked away to Georgia – the story really begins!


Book Description
“Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom

Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.

In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, "packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart." It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others.” – Saving CeeCee Honeycutt


My Thoughts
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is the author’s debut novel and is really a remarkable story about the love and friendship between women of all ages.

The story revolves around CeeCee, a young girl who finds herself in Georgia after losing her mother. There she finds many brighter than life and full of love mothers that really help her to find herself and live again.

It reminds me in many ways of The Secret Life of Bees. It is however a true Southern gem of a story that you will fall in love with. I highly recommend this novel by Beth Hoffman, it is a memorable story that would be just as good reread the second time.


* Thank you to the publisher of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Viking for providing me with a copy for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway Winner: Romano’s Macaroni Grill

The giveaway for Romano’s Macaroni Grill is now officially over. I used randomizer to determine the winner, and the winner is Liz! I will be contacting you right now to get the details on where to send your prize.

If you didn’t win, don’t be discouraged. I have more contests coming your way soon!


Thank you to MyBlogSpark and Romano’s Macaroni Grill for allowing me to review and giveaway this prize pack. The products, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Romano’s Macaroni Grill through MyBlogSpark.

Enrique Iglesias ft Pitbull on So You Think You Can Dance

I am loving this song this summer "I Like It" by Enrique Iglesias ft Pitbull. Here it is from So You Think You Can Dance, if you missed it. Gotta love the All-Star dancers dancing with them! Enjoy!





I can't wait until this season's So You Think You Can Dance finale this week. Whoever wins is awesome. I love Robert, Lauren and Kent. Really I think it will be an amazing episode. If you watch, who do you want to win?

Weekly Lovelist

What a few weeks this has been for me! Sorry I didn’t update this lovelist sooner. School is kicking my @$$. Speaking of…

College
My psychology course is over. I have a 104 average. I’m pretty happy about it. The teacher was awesome and even let us have some extra credit chances (which I always take advantage of, no matter how hard/easy it is).

Anatomy and Physiology is not as easy. I have a solid B. My A average is pretty much unreachable after these last two exams (killer hard) unless I pull a 100+ on this final, which I honestly do not see happening. However, a 87-89 average in this course is really good. Hopefully I do just as well next semester in A&P II.


Writing
Between school work and other various things, I’ve also been really busy reading. I love to do book, video games, beauty products, and any review really. So, I’ve been busy doing those if you hadn’t noticed. I’m also working on a few more beauty best-of articles for Associated Content. Have any ideas for organic products I should try that I haven’t reviewed already?

I’ve been trying to write more often for Bright Hub, and lately I’ve been published with these articles about The Sims 3:

Guide to Life Fruit in The Sims 3 – http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80283.aspx

Nude Mod for The Sims 3 - http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80285.aspx

The Sims 3 Teen Pregnant Mod and More - http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/80429.aspx

I have to say that I love writing for their Gaming channel because it allows me to play video games and write (two of my loves) and get paid for it. So, please check out those articles.


Awards
I’ve been bad at posting awards won. I love to get them, so please don’t stop awarding me with them. I’ll try to be a better blogger and post them sooner.

Here are some of the ones I’ve been awarded with lately from Carina and Little Tiara. Thanks so much!

Pellinor Series: The Singing by Alison Croggan

The fourth book in the Pellinor Series, The Singing by Alison Croggan is the conclusion of the Books of Pellinor. It is the epic story of the Light vs. the Dark set in a time long long ago…


Book Description
“In an increasingly battle-ravaged land, Maerad, Cadvan, and Hem desperately search for one another as they make their separate journeys. The Black Army is advancing north, and even as Maerad faces a mighty confrontation with the Landrost to save Innail, all of the Seven Kingdoms are threatened with bitter and devastating defeat. Yet in Maerad and Hem lives the secret to the mysterious Singing, and legend holds that if they release the music of Elidhu together, they have the power to defeat the Nameless One. Can brother and sister find each other in time to fight this all-powerful enemy, and are they strong enough -- even reunited -- to defeat him before all is lost?

The climactic volume of the epic quartet follows the Bards of Edil-Amarandh on a vital quest to merge their powers against a nameless evil.” – The Singing


My Thoughts
The Books of Pellinor is really a series that wraps you in their world and make you feel like you know these characters and want them to defeat the Dark. From the previous books, The Naming, The Riddle and The Crow, we’ve met Maerad, Cadvan, Hem, Saliman, Irc, and many more beautifully formed characters that can’t help but leave you wondering what happens to them. In some book series you are left with just an end that the author formed and perhaps even leaves out some characters. The Singing thankfully did not do that.

The Singing brings together all of our loved characters and shows how their paths lead them back to one another in their battles with the many faces of the Dark. Not everyone who has touched their lives has lived through the books, but everyone has had an impact on how Maerad and Hem fight in the end.

The end is really good and perhaps ended perfectly (if you ask me), but the story is so good it was sad to finally finish it because I wanted to keep reading more. I however did really like the fact that the author put in at the very end more information (summed up) on how each of the characters lived the rest of their lives.

I personally loved the story from The Naming to The Singing. If you love fantasy books and want to get lost in this world for awhile (they are rather large books), this is a great story fall into.


* Thank you to the publisher of The Singing, Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway + Review: Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Love Romano's Macaroni Grill but don’t want to go out to the restaurant? Well, now they offer some of their fabulous meals in the frozen section of some local grocery stores.

The new Macaroni Grill frozen entrées are made with high quality meats, colorful vegetables, distinct pasta and flavorful sauces. Try the Grilled Chicken Florentine, with grilled white meat chicken and spinach, along with farfalle pasta tossed in a delicious creamy parmesan cheese and garlic sauce. Or cook up the Basil Parmesan Chicken with grilled white meat chicken, broccoli florets and tomatoes with cavatappi pasta tossed in a flavorful creamy basil parmesan sauce.

To add even more Italian flare to your relaxing nights at home, check out the additional varieties of Macaroni Grill frozen entrées available this summer. The Roasted Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Spicy Italian Sausage Pomodoro varieties are perfect for bringing the romantic aromas of Italy into your home.

My family loves pasta, so I was glad I got to let them try the new Grilled Chicken Florentine from provided by the Macaroni Grill through MyBlogSpark.

It came with a big plate / serving bowl and pasta tongs which really gave it the feel of the Macaroni Grill. The frozen entrée came with dry ice, which after taking out carefully was still frozen.

After preparing it as directed, this is what it looked like:




My family loved it and were quite happy to eat something yummy without having to leave the house for an hour + drive to a Macaroni Grill nearby us. Maybe one day they'll have a gluten-free one, ah one can hope. :)


Macaroni Grill Giveaway:
I have one prize available to win from the Macaroni Grill containing the serving bowl, pasta tongs and the frozen entrée delivered on dry ice.

To enter please leave a separate comment for each entry, if you do not have a viewable e-mail in your Blogger profile, please include that in your entries:


One comment – Follow my Blog publicly. In your comment, share an experience with me about either the Macaroni Grill or a frozen entrée.

One comment – Blog about my giveaway (linking to this post). Leave URL of the post in your comment.

One comment – Follow me on Twitter and tweet about my giveaway (linking to this post). Leave URL on here. http://twitter.com/sherinewton



Contest will end on August 10, 2010
Good luck!



Thank you to MyBlogSpark and Macaroni Grill for allowing me to review and giveaway this prize pack. The products, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Macaroni Grill through MyBlogSpark.

Skinny Italian by Teresa Giudice from The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Italian cooking the way Americans eat it isn’t really Italian cooking. As Teresa Giudice says it is “American Italian” and not really “Italian” at all. If you watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo, you know that she is a fantastic cook, friend, fashionista, Mom and much more. Skinny Italian is her cookbook where she says that you can, “Eat spaghetti and still fit into your skinny jeans.”

Cookbook Description
“To many of us, “diet” is a four-letter word. And rightfully so. Starving yourself thin or keeping track of each bite like pennies in your checkbook is no way to live. So what’s a girl with skinny jean dreams supposed to do?

Teresa Giudice has the answer. In fact, she was born with it. The first-generation Italian-American mom of four and svelte star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey credits her knockout figure to her Old World upbringing. And now, in her fun, encouraging, and budget-friendly cookbook, she skewers the myth that looking fabulous has to be a chore.

In Skinny Italian, she reveals how to:
• substitute tedious meal plans with simple, flavorful recipes
• choose fresh, flavorful ingredients instead of counting calories
• slow down and enjoy a faster metabolism
• replace starvation with celebration by adopting an Italian attitude to cooking, eating, and entertaining
• love food, love eating, and still love your body afterward

Teresa shows how anyone can master the cornerstones of Italian cuisine. Learn how to make six different tomato sauces from scratch, how to choose and use the right olive oil, and how to prepare over sixty Giudice family recipes straight from Salerno. From Gorgeous Garlic Shrimp to Beautiful Biscotti, you’ll want to make these sumptuous recipes again and again. Discover how easy and economical wholesome, homemade cooking can be.

Skinny Italian is not a diet book. It’s an “eat it and enjoy it” book. Join Teresa and discover how gorgeous can be a sumptuous side effect to living la bella vita.” – Skinny Italian


My Thoughts
Teresa Giudice is one of my favorite NJ housewives. She is so funny and I just love her. Seriously, if you watch the show, how can you not be on her side and love her too?

This season one of the episodes featured her family’s annual tomato canning day at their home. As I was watching it, I realized this was something I really wanted to try to do, but I had really no idea how to start. So, I kind of just forgot about it… until I read Skinny Italian.

I read and reread how to do the tomato canning. My Mom and I researched it and decided that we could do it, with Teresa’s instructions (which honestly were much simpler than some of the ways to do it). We didn’t buy the extra canning stuff needed like the canning sanitizer thing or the vegetable strainer (though we wish we had those). We even went to a local farm and purchased tomatoes grown locally and organic.




We waited for the tomatoes to ripen and then plunged in and started our canning celebration. It was fun, sort of messy, and definitely memorable. Overall, we made 10 jars (which really doesn’t compare to the 160 Teresa makes on her canning day), but we were proud of ourselves – it was our first attempt after all.




Unfortunately, since I have celiac disease I couldn’t make some of the recipes in Skinny Italian exactly as described in the book since I can’t eat regular pasta or pizza dough. Gluten free pasta isn’t always the best, but there are some that are pretty good, so I just substituted that in.

Some of my favorite recipes in the book include:
• Gorgeous Garlic Shrimp
• Basic Tomato Sauce “The Quickie”
• Milania’s Marinara Sauce
• Bellissimo Bellinis
• Spaghetti All’Ubriaco “Drunken Spaghetti”


Skinny Italian is a full color cookbook featuring pictures of Teresa Giudice’s house, family and friends, and of course the food. The cookbook is written by Teresa and you can expect her sense of humor and witty tales in each and every section. My Mom and I love this cookbook and if you also love The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and/or Italian cooking you will too!


* Thank you to the publisher of Skinny Italian, Hyperion for providing me with a copy for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.