Review: True Colors by Kristin Hannah

The Grey sisters have always been close. After their mother's death, the girls banded toether, becoming best friends. Their stern, disapproving father cares less about his children than about his reputation. To Henry Grey, appearances are everything, and years later, he still demands that his daughters reflect his standing in the community. Winona, the oldest needs her father's approval most of all. An overweight bookworm who never felt at home on the sprawling horse ranch that has been in her family for three generations, she knows that she doesn't have the qualities her father values. But as the best lawyer in town, she's determined to someday find a way to prove her worth to him. Aurora, the middle sister, is the family peacemaker. She brokers every dispute and tries to keep them all happy, even as she hides her own secret pain. Vivi Ann is the undisputed star of the family. A stunningly beautiful dreamer with a heart as big as the ocean in front of her house, she is adored by all who know her. Everything comes easily for Vivi Ann, until a stranger comes to town....In a matter of moments, everything will change. The Grey sisters will be pitted against one another in ways that none could have imagined. Loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their beloved town.

I was looking forward to reading this, especially after recently reading Firefly Lane and loving it. I am one of 3 sisters and so was interested in the sister part of the story. I completely identified with Aurora in the story as the peacemaker and the one who is "always there" to help and "bridge the gap". The theme of forgiveness was strong throughout the whole novel and the author showed how difficult that can be, but how necessary it is to keep families together. I thought it was realistic that the sisters would go weeks or even months apart and then an event brings them back together. I liked Aurora's quote, "We're sisters. I just wanted to remind you. No matter what happens, what choices we make, we stick together."

Other themes presented in the story are alcoholism, depression, rivalry, anger, love, passion, and murder. I enjoyed the suspense of the book and the storyline kept me reading until the very last page. I also liked the storyline involving Vivi Ann's son and I thought it was an accurate account of how teens react to pressures of high school and that "left out" feeling.

The author's descriptions of the characters made it easy for me to picture each one in my mind and feel like I knew them. Her descriptions of the Washington coast were also beautiful and makes me want to visit the area myself.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it for book clubs as it would encourage great discussions about family relationships and forgiveness.

Mondays Matters: Week 15

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

RIDESHARE

Only 10.2% of workers rideshare. 52.5 cents/mile is the average cost to drive a car due to fuel, maintenance, tires, depreciation, and insurance. 34% of roads are in poor or mediocre condition due to heavy usage and lack of proper repairs.

ACTION STEPS

1. Find a rideshare partner. Ask a co-worker, fellow student, or friend.

2. Check with your company or school to see if there is an organized rideshare program.

3. Follow these guidelines: Meet new rideshare partners before your first commute. Discuss preferences like seating arrangements, music, eating, cell phone usage, and smoking. Set up a probationary period to try out the arrangement. Provide information about your rideshare partner to someone else in case of emergency. create an equitable driving and cost arrangement. Be punctual.

4. Do something meaningful with the $2,520 you save!

Since I don't work, I can't really speak personally to this idea. Although I have combined shopping trips with a friend so we both didn't need to drive. A few miles from our home, there is an area where several people park their cars, so I assume they are ridesharing to work. Since I live 30 minutes from the city, I do try to combine my shopping trips into as few days as possible. If I am already going in for something I get all my errands done in that day so I don't have to go back. No, it isn't ridesharing, but I am trying to reduce the amount of trips I make.

Rideshare reduces gasoline usage, vehicle wear, traffic sress, pollution, and dependency on foreign oil. Who knows, you may even make a new friend or two!

I Admit It! I'm Addicted!

Admitting your addiction is half the problem, right? But the other part of the problem is I don't want help for my addiction. I have mentioned before that I joined Facebook and love that I have reconnected with old friends and have found that it is a much easier way to stay connected with family members. Then, I found out that you can play Scrabble on Facebook. How cool is that? So, usually at any given time, I have up to 4 games going. It is great because you can play a word, and then come back hours or even days later and your turn will be waiting for you. If you and the other players are both on Facebook at the same time, you can play in "real time", but you don't have to be.

I love the excitement of logging into Facebook and finding someone has requested I play with them, or that it is my turn. I love the thrill of getting a great word or lots of points. I think my record right now for the highest point word is 64 points for the word "roomies". I love getting a Q on a TL square or using the Z with the TW.

I am in a regular game with my cousin, Melanie who lives in Minnesota. It has been so fun and I believe we are on game #10. She imagines us in our 80's playing game #3856! I certainly hope so! I also play with Melanie and her mom, my friend Tammy, and my neighbor Emily. I am always open to new games and players.

My husband will frequently walk in the room and see me on Facebook Scrabble and just shake his head. He is not a scrabble fan and doesn't get the excitement of it. I was raised to play scrabble with my mom and her sisters. If you remember a few weeks ago when I traveled to Minnesota with my mom, aunt and cousin Melanie....what did we do at night in the hotel....play scrabble! So, it is in my blood. I love it, can't get enough of it, and am fully addicted. I admit it!

Mondays Matter: Week 14

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

Create, Support, and Appreciate Art

93 % of people believe the arts are vital to a well-rounded education.

Regardless, only 29% of schools have been able to maintain time and funding for art programs.

Children spend more time at their lockers than in art classes.

Art promotes individuality, bolsters self-confidence, and improves overall academic performance.

Students who take 4 years of arts and music in high school average 100 points higher on their SATs than students who took only a half a year or less.

ACTION STEPS

1. Create an original piece of art today. If you don't know where to start, visit your local craft store and ask for help.

2. Sign up for an art class with a friend.

3. Visit a local museum, art gallery, or sculpture garden.

4. Volunteer to support an art activity at a local school or senior citizen program.

5. Communicate with your school-district administrators or national legislators by either writing a letter of appreciation for current funding or to request funding for the arts.

My kids love craft projects and we mostly focus on this during the summer. But at Christmas we always make our own gingerbread house, we carve original pumpkins at halloween, and we make our own valentines for family members, just to name a few. Frequently my kids can be seen at the table drawing and coloring on scratch paper, recreating super heroes, coming up with a menu for their own restaurant, or drawing family members. I am not the most creative person, but I encourage my kids to spend time in their own creative box and I proudly hang their works of art! We also frequently attend musical and theatre productions at the high school and our oldest child takes piano lessons.

Sit down with your family and take time to be a kid again. It can be as basic as opening a coloring book and coloring with your child. It is a great stress reliever! Just as there are many ways to express art, there are also many ways you can support and appreciate it.

Chocolate Banana Raisin Muffins

When you have leftover bananas laying around, sometimes banana bread or banana bars just don't sound good. So, these muffins are a nice change and are a perfect little snack.

Chocolate Banana Raisin Muffins

2 ripe bananas

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I have used 1 cup white, 1/2 whole wheat)

1 cup sugar

6 T unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup raisins

Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend bananas until smooth in mixing bowl. Add egg and oil. Blend. In bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa. Add to the banana mixture and stir until moistened. Stir in raisins. Spoon about 1 tablespoon (I use a mini cookie scoop) of batter into each muffin pan cup. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool muffins slightly before removing from pan. Using my mini muffin pan, this recipe makes approximately 36 muffins.

A Chilly Morning!

This morning was spent outside bundled up in our "orange" to cheer on our favorite soccer team, The Vipers. It was our first game of the season and it a was windy and cold 47 degrees. During the game the sun came out and did warm it up a tad. The kids had fun. The dads stood behind their wives and chatted. The moms sat in chairs bundled up with blankets, chatting and cheering for our kids. The kids got some exercise and had a blast. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

Review: Look Both Ways: A Midnight Twins Novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard

I received an ARC of this book and it is available in stores today. This is a Young Readers Book recommended for ages 12 and up.

From the back of the book: One twin has the power to see into the future, one to see deep into the past. Mally and Merry Brynn thought that with the death of David Jellico, their nightmarish visions of the future and past were gone for good. Now, Merry's only worries revolve around cheer tryouts, and Mally has slipped back into her homebody, tom-boy ways. Then a cheerleader lands in the hospital. And a mysterious, beautiful mountain lion is maimed. When they begin to suspect their friend Eden's involvement in both events, Merry and Mally are catapulted back into a world of visions that they do not yet understand. And this time, they must race to prevent the people they love most from unspeakable tragedy.

This is the second in the Midnight Twins series and I have not read the first one, which I think would have been helpful to understanding the characters more. I found the book very confusing in the beginning and hard to keep the characters straight. But, once I got into a third of the way into the story, it was easier. I tried to imagine myself as a teenager reading this book and think that teen girls would love this story. The author does an excellent job of keeping it current with the teens communicating through texting and with Mallory playing soccer. I also thought her descriptions of their first kisses and feelings of "love" were quite accurate and believable. The story involves the American Indian legend of a "shapeshifter" and I found it quite interesting, but again, did make it confusing at times. As a mom, I enjoyed the storyline of Campbell (the mom) and her decisions for her and her family's future. The writing was very descriptive and I could easily imagine the Ridgeline wilderness and imagine myself skiing through the woods as Mallory did. I love the Pow Wow and all the stories and intricate details to describe the clothing and traditions and the Cree Indians. Although the storyline ends sadly for some characters, for others I think it sparks a new beginning and easily will flow into a new adventure for a possible third novel in the series. The "white lion" is still out there.

Again, I think teen girls would enjoy the story, but I do recommend reading the first in the series titled The Midnight Twins. I would give this 3.5 stars. Thanks to Penguin Group and Jacquelyn Mitchard for the opportunity to read this story.