{So I Read This Book ...}

A few weeks ago (longer than I care to admit actually!) I got an e-mail from a woman from Penguin Books asking if I was interested in reviewing a fictional book centered around scrapbooking. Well, I like books. And I like scrapbooking! Perfect! Of course I said yes. The really weird part was in our e-mail exchanges, it turns out that this person from the big city of New Yawk actually went to college right here in my little hometown. How absolutely weird is that? Weird in a good way - weird in a "damn, but this is a small, small world" kind of way. Anyway, I digress ...

The book. A Page Out of Life by Kathleen Reid



In A PAGE OUT OF LIFE, frazzled mother of four Ashley lets her best friend drag her to a meeting of the local scrapbook club, she’s amazed at the way old photos and mementos can bring vivid color to sepia-toned memories. Among the surprisingly diverse group is Tara, a single grad student whose search for love, like her relationship with her absentee father, has only brought her heartache—and some funny dating stories. Then there’s Libby, a semi-retired teacher who thought she’d spend her golden years taking cooking and photography classes—not as a town pariah after her son is charged in a corporate scandal. As Ashley copes with a husband whose love for her fluctuates with her weight, she comes to depend more and more on her scrapbooking sisters. For only together can they face earth-shattering revelations and emotionally unavailable men—and figure out their futures while artfully commemorating their pasts.

Sounds kind of interesting, doesn't it? This was a nice, light-hearted read for me. I didn't have to dig deep into my emotions and deal with any big earth-shattering subject matter. I wasn't forced to think about anything political or how it would affect society (my last two book reads). It was just an easy, entertaining read. A good "throw it in your bag to read at the beach" book. Which was fitting, since I finished it lounging in the sun on my deck last weekend! I think what I really liked most about this book was how open and inviting the scrappers were to a "new girl" in their group, and how they all rallied around each other in their time of need. I have a small group of scrap friends who, if we actually lived in the same town, I just know would do the same. So I saw a lot of us in this book. I did have to laugh at how digital scrapping was portrayed - we all know that most of the time it is so much more than choosing a few pictures to add to a pre-made program. But I wouldn't really expect a book about paper scrapping to understand the nuances of digi. So. If you're looking for a good summer read for vacation, pop into Barnes and Noble, or Borders, or whatever, and grab this one up!

AND ... I'm going to pass on my copy! Leave me a comment, and I'll pick a random winner to send my copy of the book on to. I'll pick someone end of next week - let's say Friday!

... in other news ...

It's been a busy week in Roxy's house! Hosted a baby shower for my bestest friend last weekend. She lives out of town now, and I've really missed her, and seeing her progress in her pregnancy. So it was really nice to spend some time with her and hear all her news. She's due July 2, and I can't wait for Baby Makenna to make her way into the world!

Took yesterday off to enjoy a five-day weekend. Got my nails done, got Abby into the vet for some blood work, did two loads of laundry, vacuumed, hit my LSS for baby album supplies (yes, I am going to solely paper scrap for the first time this century!), and then went to dinner with friends. It was nice to have a short little girls night out - we don't do it often enough, and all three of us admitted to that. So hopefully we can make the time and go out more often.

No big plans for the holiday weekend, which is nice. I get tired of running funning running all over the place. I'm really more of a homebody than I care to admit, and I'm perfectly happy curled up on the couch with Two Dogs and a Husband (Hey! LOL!). Weather isn't going to be anything spectacular, and we haven't replaced our barbecue yet, so really, its just a few extra days off. Fine by me!

... vacation ...

So, we're taking a little trip. Not a major deal, just a chance to hook out of town and relax a little bit. We've gone to Ocean Shores, Washington, quite a few times in the last 10 years or so, but we've skipped the last couple of years because of other things going on. And Roxy's never been (so I guess its been at least three years since we've gone). It's just a quaint little town on the Washington coast, with lots of beachcombing and sand in your shorts! Hopefully we'll have nice weather, because it can get pretty chilly on the water. It's always hard finding hotels that will take dogs, especially when the majority of the day is going to be spent in the sand and salt water. But we snagged one of the few dog rooms The Shilo Inn has:


I love that its right on the beach - the place we've stayed in the past is considered "on the beach" but its further up the coast, and there's a large expanse of grassy dunes in between the hotel and the sand. Here, we can practically step right out from our patio and be on the sand. So I'm excited. Roxy's going to have a BALL. I need a bigger memory card :)


... scrap stuff ...

Pages! I have pages!

Natalie's got the cutest, most vibrant kit ever out today -
ribbon in the sky:


That girl just does amazing things with her elements -this has the cutest stuff in it! I opted to go clean and simple, and stick with just a couple of colors:

puppy parts


Aaaaaannnnndddddd ... in other scrap news, there just might be a new designer in town! I had the privilege of working with a new kit by a great gal who's dipping her toes into the scrapping pool. She's got a great eye for color, her papers are really nicely textured, and she's just an all-around good person. Plus, she gets my sense of humor, which is both scary AND comforting, all at the same time! Here is my take on her kit A Man Named Brady (cute, huh? Can't go wrong with anything Brady in my book!)


Love the retro feel to her elements, and I'm just giddy over the colors! I predict wonderful things to come from her! Who might this be? Well, I'm not at liberty to come right out and spill the beans, but there might be a hint right here. And I have it on good authority she'll be working on a collab with another of my favorite designers. so stay tuned!

I think that is it for news that's worthy of sharing! Thanks for popping in, and don't forget to leave me a comment if you want to snag my book!