Book Talk: Reconstructing Amelia

I decided to bring back book talks this summer. I love that summer is full of stacks of library books and time to enjoy the stories others have to tell. When I was recovering from my surgery, I read a ton of books. Honestly, none of them were that great. So when I finally came around to this book, I was thrilled to have found such an enthralling book.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight was rumored to be the Gone Girl of 2013. Never, ever, ever would I compare the two books. The only similarity between them is suspense. But other than that, not the same. I would consider Gone Girl to be a psychological thriller, whereas Reconstructing Amelia is more mystery.

I read the book quickly, which I think is very important to enjoying a fast-paced, suspense-filled book. When I read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn last summer, I definitely read it too slow and I think that resulted in me not really enjoying the book to its full potential. Reconstructing Amelia kept me interested the entire time, with different narrations from the past and the present. There was just enough twists to keep me turning the page. I think that the end got a little muddled as there was a few too many twists, but the book was still enjoyable.

The book whole book had me reflecting on my relationship with my mom, the things about myself I keep to myself, and the challenges that come with being a teenager. It's a coming of age novel, filled with the heartbreaks and awkwardness and being lost and found. Emotions are delicately played.

I so enjoyed this book after a slew of blah books. I recommend it as a quick, but meaningful read. I see a Lifetime movie in the future;) 4/5 stars.

xo
Hannah

One Week Fresh and Free

I have officially been finished with my freshman year of college for a week now! I cannot believe it. It has been a slow steady start to summer and I have so enjoyed every second of it.

I miss college in a very weird way. It slowly hits me everyday that I am not going back to Smith South Third, and I will never wake up in room 331. It's weird that I won't shower in the rainbow-tiled bathroom and jam out with Christine, or have conversations while brushing my teeth with Emma and Melissa. I sort of miss the monotony of each day, but also am so happy to be free to do whatever I desire! I am so happy to carry so many wonderful memories of these past nine months with me.

On my final night, I went a little crazy. My dinner consisted of french fries and a sprinkle milkshake. I danced back and forth from one side of the room to the other. My friends and I went absolutely nuts dancing and pushing each other on desk chairs in the hallway. It was the best time ever! When things quieted down, we sat in my room and got extremely sentimental, sharing our favorite bits and pieces of freshman year. It was an emotional 24 hours as I packed up the next day and left the place that had transformed into a new branch of home.

I spent a few hours putting this together and crying and missing my friends and feeling so grateful to have captured some of the best moments of the best year.




So now that I'm free of calculus Webassigns and biology lab write-ups and disabilities papers, what am I doing you may ask.

Well...

I have baked a German chocolate cake from scratch,

Happy birthday to the coolest dad around

hosted a Mother's Day brunch,

If this whole doctor thing doesn't work out, I'll be an excellent hostess/housewife/party planner

taken my cat to the vet,

gone to Sonic,

And visited a gallbladder-less Riley!

caught up on Grey's Anatomy,

Huge fan of this cover. Bawled like a baby due to recent events on the show. #AttachedToAShow This cover beautifully fit the episode. 

checked out several books from the library,

Loving coffee and the morning sunshine

and have started my nannying job.

Life is sweet and simple. The reality of summer is slowly sinking in and I am so enjoying it.

xo
Hannah

High Five for Friday!

1. Sunday involved pizza with Riley and Mackenzie and fabric selfies while shopping for some quilting materials.

2. At The Finer Things Club (book club), we celebrated Isabel's birthday! We had lemon cake, in honor of reading The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.

3. The sunsets have been stellar this week.

4. I made this yummy pasta for dinner this week! It's a favorite in our house! Recipe found here

5. Look who's back for a weekend vacation!!!!!

xo
Hannah

Book Talk : My Story

Do you remember where you were when you heard the news about 9/11? The Sandy Hook shooting? A family member's death? Those moments that just make you stop, think, and consider the blessing in your life?

I remember where I was when Elizabeth Smart was found. I was in Ms. Lowe's first grade class. She was reading a book to us as we sat before her, all the girls lined up, braiding the hair of the girl in front of them. My mom was coming to pick me up early for an appointment and she came into the classroom, interrupting the reading, saying with such relief, "They found her. They found Elizabeth!". Then my teacher and mom talked for a little bit about the news and then I left with my mom as she held my hand tightly.

Last October when Elizabeth's memoir came out, I was instantly intrigued and wanted to read it. I finally got around to it and was so impressed. Elizabeth wrote with such eloquence and demonstrated such grace and perseverance. Let me tell you, most people (including myself) would not be able to come out of such a traumatic incident with the strength and perspective that Elizabeth had. So let's getting talking.

Han's Review
I don't want to say I enjoyed this book because that seems like the wrong thing to say about such an awful topic, but I did think it was a good book. I really love memoirs and this was no exception. Sometimes when I read books or watch movies on kidnappings, I'm extremely paranoid and have this feeling that it will happen to me. However, with this book, Elizabeth managed to be matter-of-fact without being too blunt. She was able to experience a horrifying thing and positively move on. My mother had no idea why I would want to read about such a disturbing thing, but Elizabeth never made it out to be the end of the world. While it was not the best, she looks back on it with a positive mindset.


The Writing

While this book may not be the most well-written book, it was still good. While there weren't major cliffhangers, but I still found myself turning the page quickly. As a young woman myself, I put myself in the shoes of Elizabeth. Because I grew up in a safe, suburban bubble, I haven't experienced several terrifying situations, but have heard of them frequently. Most of the time, they scare the living daylights out of me because I live in such a safe place. Curiosity gets the best of me because I honestly cannot imagine being taken from my own room. 

Faith

Elizabeth is never graphic when describing what happened with her. I associate this with her strong Mormon faith. While not LDS myself, I know a lot about the religion and their beliefs. She is not blunt, but rather discreet enough to get the point across. This makes the book a little easier to read. After reading this book, I read Jaycee Dugard's memoir. While the two girls' kidnappings differed in length, they were still young when they occurred and the abuse was extreme. But Jaycee wrote with more aggression and much more graphic description. It was difficult to read. Elizabeth's faith emphasizes purity so what occurred to her was most against her beliefs. Her faith alone is what helped her live.

The Aftermath
What most impressed me was Elizabeth's perspective about the entire event. Where most people would have hate for their abductors, Elizabeth never once said she hated them. Instead, she remarked that much worse could have happened. I don't think most 15-year olds are able to look at such an awful situation with that light! She dealt with a lot of negative reactions because she 'never fought back'. But what Elizabeth did was save her family, and herself. She has all of my respect.

Book Club Questions
(adapted from here)
1. Elizabeth speaks of near-rescues, in particular, one in the library when a detective questioned Mitchell. Why didn't she cry out?
2. Elizabeth's faith is her primary reason for living. What else motivates her?
3. Elizabeth's abductor, Brian David Mitchell, already had a bad history. His own mother had a restraining order against him. Are people like him evil? Is mental illness an excuse for what he did?
4. What about Mitchell's partner, Wanda Ileen Barzee? She herself is a mother; one wonders what would prompt her to maltreat a child like Elizabeth. Brazee receieved a sentence of 15 years, seven of which the judge said she had already served. How do you feel about that? 
5. If you were in Elizabeth's shoes, what would you have done? What would have kept you going?


I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. A compelling read that proves the triumphs faith can bring.

xo
Hannah

Book Talk : Gone Girl

Every Thursday here on the blog, I've decided to do a book talk/ book review of sorts. I've got a list of books I am so excited to write about! Summer is the best time to just sit and consume books, so this may be something that is primarily for the summer (sort of late to jump on this, I know) but one of my goals is to always have a free reading book going during school. I always forget how much I love to just sit and read when we are in school! One of the best bloggers out there, Bon, hosts a monthly book club over at her blog and I like how she formats some of them so I figured I would do something similar.

I also am part of a book club with Mack, Isabel, and Ainsley (we like to call it The Finer Things Club because of how classy things get when we're together). The first book we read was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I thought it would be the perfect book to kick off Book Talks with Han (creative name, I know). Heads up, there's a few spoilers so don't say I didn't warn you.

Han's Review
Wow I loved this book. Typically, I read some pretty basic realistic fiction. A little romance, a little family drama, stuff like that. This was an absolute thriller and I was instantly hooked. You are asking questions the whole time and it just gets more and more twisted! I became emotionally invested in this book and really couldn't stop thinking about it. The day I got it, I read outside in my hammock for hours without stopping. Eventually, it began to rain on me and I put the book down for the night. All night long, it was all I thought about. The next day, I finished it in just a few hours. It just kept getting juicier and juicier! However, I loathed the ending. So upset. I was expecting something different and was truly upset.

Writing Style
At first, it is slightly confusing because Flynn goes back and forth between the present and the past. Then, there is a complete shift in character's voice and you are confused and shocked and mad! The prose was good, but not outstanding. However I feel like that is common in books like this; it's more about turning the page and continuing onto the plot, not focusing on the beauty of the words.

This book is not for those who hate profanity because it is extremely prevalent in this book. I guess in this sort of situation, a lot of cussing would occur.

Flynn did an outstanding job with the plot and climax. Right when you thought you were figuring it all out, BAM! It was different, unexpected, and everything changed. This woman is a genius author because she really had to do a lot of thinking with this book. She had me convinced for the first half of the book that the murder was done by one person, and with one sentence, I was convinced it was someone else. She had me turning my back on characters. Then when the treasure hunt clues are described, I was thinking like I was Nick. She got in Amy's head and got every little detail lined up!

The Characters
Well these people suck. Right when you think you love one character, the truth about them and it ain't pretty. They all just infuriated me!!! I wanted to yell at them and their choices and how they treated each other! These people were probably the most dysfunctional group I have ever heard of. The entire time I just kept wondering why they ever get married. The two main characters, Nick and Amy, were the worst couple in the world. Talk about a bomb. But despite my hatred for the characters, I still loved the book. That doesn't happen too often. I guess their insanity was intriguing.

A movie?!
I'm really intrigued by the book becoming a movie. It will surely be good because the book was, but I feel like it might be sort of confusing and there are definitely parts they will have to change. So far, the trailer looks good and I anxiously await it's release in October!

Book Club Questions
1. Do you believe that Nick and Amy ever really loved each other?
2. In this book, who was the victim? Was there one?
3. How did the "Amazing Amy" books impact Amy's life, as a child and an adult.
4. In Amy and Nick's marriage, was one of them more at fault than the other?
5. How was this book different than other suspense books?


In the end, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Definitely worth your time! Afterwards, do tell me about your thoughts!

xo
Hannah

Slowly, and then all at once.

It's pretty incredible how one book or one movie or one song can make you feel so much, think so much, and reflect so much. The Fault in Our Stars is one of those books and movies that leaves a lasting impression on anyone that comes across it. Personally, I believe it's a pivotal book that will be one of the triumphed young adults of our time. It's one that will be read for decades to come. A while back, I read the book and like most would agree, it was pretty unforgettable. So when I heard that it was going to be made into a film, with the author's help, I was ecstatic. I think that turning a book into a movie is a delicate art that often is unsuccessful. The book is always better, yes, but we all still want a great, similar movie! And The Fault in Our Stars delivered in a way that is rare.

I watched just about every trailer and behind the scenes feature I could before seeing this movie. I was so excited that I would get a knot in my stomach when I thought about the movie (how bad is that?) I love the love in this movie so unbelievably much. While some might think it is unrealistic, I do not agree. It is real, while the situation may vary for everyone. Some may find this love when they are young, some when they are old, but it's one that teaches a lesson-- life is a precious gift and we are meant to live it with as much zeal as possible. The love in this movie is not limited to romantic love, but friendship love as well. Gus and Hazel's love is beautiful, but the love that is shed between the friendship of Isaac and Gus is just as brilliant. Love stories always get us feeling some special way, but this one is one of my favorites. It's most certainly a result of John Green's magnificent writing. 

"I fell in love with him the way you fall asleep... slowly, and then all at once." 

                         If that doesn't describe falling in love, I sure as heck don't know what else does. 

(I could continue to recite my favorite quotes but I don't feel like typing 99% of the book ;))

Sooo, I saw the movie three times. Two of the times were in the duration of twelve hours. I have to say that it was the best book to movie adaptation I have ever seen. Only very minor details were left out so no one could be too upset. 

I have to admit though, I did not cry. But when I think back on it, I didn't cry any of the times I read the book. It's strange because I can be pretty emotional. I was so sad, do not get me wrong, I just never balled, like I expected. 

When I went with Amanda, we got crafty and had tshirts and everything. It was a great time, even if we left the theater a little sad.

Only a little excited

Okay really excited

One of my favorite parts of the movie (besides all of it!) was the music. It was spot on perfect! Here's some favorites.

 

I sure do hope you treated yourself to this book and movie. It's not one you want to wait to come to Redbox- it's worth the overpriced movie ticket and snacks!

xo

Hannah

Okay? Okay.

During Christmas break of junior year, I read the most amazing book, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I wrote a little review back here. Anyways, they decided to make it a movie and I have been so excited ever since I found out! John Green helped to produce the movie and in my opinion, that always makes the movie better. It's really important to have the author direct the movie so their vision is properly executed.

Anyways, when I found out that Shailene Woodley was going to be Hazel Grace, I was SO excited. I have loved Shailene since she was first Amy Jurgens in the "Secret Life of the American Teenager".  Oh and when she was Felicity Merriman;) I loved her in "The Spectacular Now" and "The Descendants" and I cannot wait to see her in Divergent and TFIOS! And then there's Ansel Elgort as Augustus Water. Swooooon. I LOVE HIM. I remember after seeing "Carrie", I looked him up because he was so attractive and when I saw he was going to be Augustus Waters, I was so thrilled. I just want a boy like Augustus Waters SO bad. I can't even discuss the details because it tears my heart up.

Yesterday, a 10 second trailer teaser was released. Today the real deal came out and holy shoot I'm even more excited now. Feel free to watch once... or 6865104714523 times like me.

"You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I can't tell you how

 thankful I am for our little infinity.” 

(cue the sobbing)

 

UGH I CANNOT EVEN HANDLE MY EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW I JUST CANNOT WAIT!

 

xo

Hannah

Giving Thanks 22/30

November 22// I am thankful for books. Reading is my favorite past time, I've loved it forever. It's easy, and you can do it anywhere.

More specifically, today I am thankful for my favorite book, "My Sister's Keeper". It is the one exception to the rule in which you should never buy a book with the movie picture as the cover. I remember the day I bought it very distinctly. It was in the summer, the year before I was going to 8th grade. I went shopping with one of my middle school best friends that day, Madi. And boy did we shop. We both spent almost $60 at Aeropostale (such a middle school store), along with buying some body spray and lotion from Bath & Body Works, and of course, frappuccinos from Starbucks. I was about to leave for Virginia to visit my aunt and uncle and baby cousins so quickly before Madi's mom picked us up, I ran into Borders, which is now a massive Forever 21, and grabbed this book. They didn't have the non-movie cover and I just knew it was a book I had to read, and I had to read now. I was leaving for my trip in three days... I finished the book in one.
I remember reading it so quickly, yet so slowly, trying to savor every word. I quickly fell in love with Jodi Picoult's writing.

I love that this book has pages that are dog earred and wrinkled, and the covers edges are peeling and fading. I've got parts memorized and always cry whenever I read it. I've never had a book that I loved so much and that left me so inspired.

My sister, who's in 8th grade, wanted to borrow my book. I almost didn't let her because she just seemed too young for such a complex story, but then I realized that I was younger than her when I read the book. I didn't want to restrict her from the greatest book ever-- especially one that left me more than inspired. I remember when she finished it, and came to me, confused and upset with the ending. Oh Olivia, how I feel with ya.

My Sister's Keeper was also the book that clicked a piece of the puzzle inside me together. I read the book, gaining more than perspective but a call to action. It's the book that really made me think about what I wanted to do with my life. Seventh grade, I knew I wanted to help people through medicine. I dabbled with the idea of being a neonatologist or a pediatrician. But reading My Sister's Keeper opened my eyes up to oncology and there's always been a piece that has stuck with me. After reading that book, I knew for sure I was going to be a doctor, and a darn good one. It made me realize how I will do anything and everything to help people who are sick, whether that be through donating blood or cutting my hair for wigs for cancer patients, I want to do anything to give someone life, because it has been a gift for me.

At my high school, as seniors, we have to do a project in order to graduate. They want you to choose something that you're interested in, something with a learning curve, something that maybe you can use down the road in life. I chose to shadow an oncologist and research bone marrow transplants. I'm writing my research paper on the ethics of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which is what My Sister's Keeper is completely based on.

If you haven't read My Sister's Keeper, do it. I promise that it won't disappoint.

my favorite santa knit socks, striped leggings, and the best book ever.

Oh, and the movie is alright. It's different than the book, I'll tell you that, but I won't tell you how. I  cried, but I cry easily at movies so there's that. (I just rewatched the trailer and almost started crying, it hits me bone deep) But Abigail Breslin is in it and she is my favorite actress ever so you can enjoy that too.

And this song from the movie is a favorite- it's a reminder that life is a precious gift.

xo
Hannah

PS: Happy 18th birthday Maddison! I hope you had the best day ever! xoxoxo

"This, right here, is beautiful"

I finally saw it. The Spectacular Now. Where to begin? I really loved the movie, it was spectacular;)

I went in with pretty high expectations, I'm not going to lie. Overall though, I was pleased. Here's what I loved most about it... I could relate! Isn't that what always lures us in? When you see that you're not the only one in the world who is 17 and has never had an ex-boyfriend? When you see you're not the only one who can be extremely awkward? We find peace in know we are not alone. It gives us a piece of hope to hang on to.

I'm not saying I'm like Aimee Finecky, by all means. We have a very different home life, but socially, I see us as equals. I can not ever imagine falling for a boy like Sutter Keely, but love is love. And when a boy loves you like Sutter loves Aimee, it's easy not to fall in head over heels.

This movie, like the book, was pretty straightforward, with not a lot of plot twists. But, there is so much more to the movie than the surface level. Each character, and situation, comes with a much deeper meaning. The movie is what being a teenager is about, what high school is about.

What I know some people didn't like was the ending to this movie. It was different than the book, and I personally liked it more. But it's ambiguous. What I realize though, is the ending of the book/movie is not bad, it's just not how I wanted it to end. But isn't that the same with life? It's not always what we want, but sometimes what we get.

I loved the acting, Shailene Woodley is one of my favorites, ever since Secret Life. And Miles Teller is pretty irrestiable, he stole my heart in Footloose. I do wish that some details of the book would have been in the movies. There were some that really characterized Aimee and Sutter, and would have made the movie that much better.

I highly recommend seeing it. I just love coming of age stories. It reminded me to slow down, take it in, and cherish these moments. The best part of life is not in the past or future, but right now.

xo
Hannah

//book review here//

The Spectacular Now -- A Book Review

Last month, Riley and I had a talk about book recommendations. She bought a ton and told me a few of the titles. She asked if I had ever read/heard of The Spectacular Now. I looked up the trailer and was hooked!

I have watched this trailer far too many times. #sorrynotsorry

Well anyways, I fell in love so I had to read the book. And I did in less than 12 hours. It was that good.

So here's my little review :)

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp 

★★★★☆

Sutter Keely is the master of the party. He's the guy that your parents don't want you to hang out with, but he has the charisma to charm any girl. However, his reign only lasts through high school, as reality is a bit more harsh. He likes his 7Up spiked with whiskey and a girl with curves. But when Sutter wakes up to Aimee Finecky in someone else's front yard, his life changes. She slowly becomes the new girl in his life, as he helps her become less gentle, more aggressive, and teaches her to stand up for what she wants. As their relationship blossoms, Sutter realizes more about himself and more about the world around him. This wonderful coming-of-age story is authentic, and leaves readers enthralled with Sutter's power but perhaps upset with some decisions.

Overall, I really, really, really enjoyed the book! I highly recommend it, and I cannot wait to find a theater playing the darn movie close to me!!! Throughout the novel, you can't help but fall in love with Sutter and his genuine emotions for Aimee. I love to see how they both change. These sort of books always open my eyes up to a different "breed" of high schoolers. There's never books that reflect me and my friends... they would sound something like "They studied during the week and would hang out on the weekends getting slurpees and going to the movies or playing water pong. One worked at the movie theater, others babysat. They got good grades and had a great time with each other" The characters in these books live a very different life than me, so it's always refreshing to see a new perspective. The only reason this book didn't get five stars is because of how disappointed I was with the ending. It was good, but not how I would have ended it. Despite this, the book is a great YA novel to inspire the youth in you and to remind you that live in the spectacular now.

xo
Hannah

Blessed

Happy Easter! Christos Anesti, He has risen indeed!

This past week was a reminder of all the good things in my life that I so often forget when busy and stressed....

Birthday surprises

and celebrations

Watching great movies all day with my mom that leave old songs in our heads

Movie days after sledding

The best pictures from a BF5ever

Exploring downtown Denver

and ending the day with lots of laughter at the Old Spaghetti Factory

Shopping/running errands with my mom all day...and laughing from pure exhaustion trying on pajamas on top of her clothes at Target

Another day just with my momma, my favorite- ending it with Wahoo's

Cleaning my closet and reorganizing all my clothes in OCD fashion

Purple loving little sister

Reading a great book in less than a day (you better believe I've got a lot to say about it too!)

Watching one of the strangest movies ever

Babysitting my favorite littles

Pictures for me from my cousin (btw, she made only me one! and told me I was her favorite! This is monumental!)

I was going to make use of my break and catch up on blogging- I've got a list of things to record. But I just let things roll, and made the best of each day, getting up by 9 and not going to bed until 12 because I was spending time with some of my favorite people. Life is really about enjoying the small things.

xo
Hannah

{Bloom} Where You Are Planted

"Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You got to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing. Still, the expected's just the beginning, the unexpected is what changes our lives."

One of my favorite bloggers ever is Kelle Hampton, without a doubt.  I first found her blog, Enjoying the Small Things, through the birth story of her second daughter Nella Cordelia, who was unexpectedly born with Down syndrome. Before reading on, read the story. It was one of the most beautifully written things I've ever read in my entire life. It is raw, honest, and it stirs emotion.

I've always asked myself what I would do if I had a child born with special needs. How would I deal with the situation? How would it effect my life? Kelle gives her take on it and describes it in way most would probably be afraid to,in her memoir, "Bloom".

I've been looking forward to reading this book for quite some time. Memoirs are one of my favorite things in the entire book world.  I wanted to read it over Christmas break because I knew then, I would have time to sit without being interrupted and enjoy it.  Yesterday was that splendid day. I zipped over to Tattered Cover at 1:00 to pick up the book which I ordered yesterday, and spent my $25 gift card plus another $1.24. Usually, I detest spending that much money on books, and I  could have bought it for a much more reasonable price of $10 on my Kindle, but this was one of those books that I knew I wanted to have in print to keep with me for the rest of my life. With a medium coconut steamer in hand and the book, I settled in for a cozy afternoon of indulgence.

Now before I get to the review, let me express how much I despise the hatred toward Kelle Hampton. There are literally feeds on blogs and other sites about how they hate the "branding" that Kelle puts forth.  They believe that Kelle is an extremist and melodramatic, a fame seeker, conceded. Everything is just too perfect, they say. In fact, just yesterday on her blog, Kelle wrote about dealing with the negativity. On a recent photo she posted on Instagram,  an extremely rude person commented on her 'unauthenticity for fame' and 'glittered life with everything good is just too much... it's just not authentic or even plausible'. As Kelle said in Chicago on her book tour, "Hurting people hurt." Jealously is something we all have. That little green monster. But there are people who think that Kelle is all fake. Because a mother to young daughters, with another on the way, definitely has the time to create a fake life for her blog and photographs (which she is frequently taking to capture the precious moments with her girls). To all you haters, shame on you.

Now on to the book. It was magnificent. The book is larger than I expected, but only because it is filled not only with Kelle's words, but her photographs. There is something to be said about pictures... they really do tell a thousand words.

Through the book, beginning with the story of Nella's birth, Kelle expresses the grief she felt, as she was handed the child she was not expecting. My heart ached with her. It was all so raw. She didn't sugarcoat her emotions, she was honest and spoke of her initial selfishness, her deep sadness.

I wanted to be Kelle's friend. The way she described her Net, her group of friends there for her at her darkest (later turned best) moment made me wish I lived in Naples and was part of their group that has girls nights,  beach days, and charm exchanges.  I thought of my friends, and though we are far from having kids of our own, I could picture if that was us now, and how we would each respond. I know who my Heidi would be, my Wylie, my Carie, my Net.

Bloom: to flourish or thrive; to be in or achieve a state of healthful beauty and vigor; a flourishing, healthy condition; the time or period of greatest beauty

... and that is exactly what Kelle does. 

 
The way that Kelle grows from this unexpected event is truly remarkable, and not many would be able to do so with such grace and humility. No one can go through such shock and be perfectly ok the next day. We all, as human beings, process. 

Some people criticize Kelle for grieving too much, for wallowing in self pity, for being shocked. Her world as she knew it was shattered, but she slowly was able to put her half full glass together with Krazy Glue.  If I were her, God knows I would only be the same way. Don't judge a situation until you have lived it.

Some say she has an overly happy, "perfect" life. I say she knows how to find joy and beauty where others see nothing. She makes the most of what she finds value in. She lives her life how she wants to, it is after all, her life. "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

"Bloom" is a book that can be read and reread, each time with something new the reader will discover. Life is all about perspective, how you see it is how it will be. In our lives, we have our blessings and lessons. How will you learn from your blessing? How will you make the most of your life, and the unexpected that is part of it?

I highly recommend "Bloom" to anyone, whether they live a life of funk and extravagant colors, or a simple, white picket fence life.  There is so much we can learn from what we never know is coming.

  “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” 

-Mary Oliver

xo
Hannah

2012 in Review

What better way to remember the year then reviewing it?

"The days are long but the years are short."

JANUARY

What I did: Celebrated Sierra's birthday, had Winter Week at school, won a marshmallow licking contest, went to Sadies

What I read: "The Hunger Games"

What I saw: Crazy, Stupid, Love (ok, I saw this first in July 2011, but watched it at Sierra's party)

What I learned: If there's the chance to win a Starbucks gift card, lick the marshmallow cream off the plexiglass even if Sierra's on the other side licking away, and you hate marshmallow cream. Starbucks is worth it.

FEBRUARY

What I did: Celebrated Mackenzie's birthday, went to Ohio and Kentucky

What I read: "The Lucky One", "Siddartha"

What I saw: The Vow and Journey to the Center of the Earth 2

What I learned:  February is a cruel, cold month.

MARCH

What I did: Celebrated MY birthday!, lettered in academics, went to the Apple Awards for my amazing mother, went to Steamboat, began the tennis season

What I read: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", "Lord of the Flies"

What I saw: The Hunger Games!
What I learned: It's ok to cry on your birthday :)

APRIL

What I did: Celebrated Riley's birthday, had my birthday party, had my surgery, became addicted to blogs

What I read: "Heaven is Here"

What I saw: The Lucky One
What I learned:  Pain... it demands to be felt. But once it's over, the true comfort of the normal, even if it's new, is a beautiful blessing.

MAY

What I did: Celebrated Kylee's birthday, started this blog!, finished sophomore year, was confirmed

What I read: "The House on Mango Street"

What I saw: What to Expect When You're Expecting
What I learned: Be proud of all you do, no matter good or bad. It will always teach you a lesson.

JUNE

What I did: Began volunteering at the hospital, spent time with cousins who moved to Japan, went to my other cousin's wedding, had a Pinterest party, worked at a science camp for a week, endured far too high of temperatures, got up early to walk/run

What I read: "The Wedding"

What I saw: PS I Love You
 What I learned: I love summer, hate school, and 5th/6th graders are some of the funniest kids you will ever meet.

JULY

What I did: Went to Steamboat, had a fun day at the zoo with family, shopped, ran with Mackenzie, had the best time ever with friends on the trampoline

What I read: "The Glass Castle"

What I saw: 21 Jump Street

What I learned: Summer is far too short, so make the most of each day and night. (cheesy much?)

AUGUST

What I did: Celebrated Jessica's birthday, broke my arm, started junior year, went to my first concert, went tubing down the Colorado River

What I read: "Nights in Rodanthe"

What I saw: Norah Jones in concert
What I learned: Don't go too fast on a zipline, even if it seems like it will be the funnest thing ever.

SEPTEMBER

What I did: Went to homecoming, caught up with an old friend, went to my cousin's wedding

What I read: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

What I saw: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
What I learned: I HAVE THE WORLD'S GREATEST BEST FRIENDS.  (thank you TSofTP!)

OCTOBER

What I did: Went to the pumpkin patch, visited DU, trick-or-treated, went to a haunted house, went to the coldest football game ever

What I read: "All Quiet on the Western Front"

What I saw: Pitch Perfect
 What I learned: Never ever let Sierra or Jessica get in your car if they have a full bladder. ever.

NOVEMBER

What I did: Celebrated Maddison's birthday, babysat my butt off, ate a ton at Thanksgiving, was inducted into NHS

What I read: "Rebecca", "Night"

What I saw: Here Comes the Boom, The Notebook, White Christmas (the musical)
 What I learned: I am such a lucky, lucky girl to be blessed with all that I am. God is truly abundant.

DECEMBER

What I did: Finals, celebrated my favorite holiday ever, went downtown to the ballet, spent lots of time with family

What I read: "The Stranger", "The Fault In Our Stars", "Looking for Alaska", "How to Save a Life"

What I saw: Les Miserables, The Nutcracker
What I learned: No matter how horrible the work may seem, if you work hard, it will pay off.

There was so many great things that happened this past year and there is no way to write of it all. I am a blessed girl in so many ways!

May 2013 be as prosperous as 2012!

Happy New Year!

xo
Hannah

PS: I hope you like the new design... I LOVE it!

"The Fault in Our Stars"

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.” 

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Over the summer, I compiled a list of books that I just had to read. I always look forward to winter break because I know it's a time where I can just read my heart out, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

The first book I read this break was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. 

Reading a John Green book for the first time is a little bit like reading your own teenage diary. What he says and how he says it is dead on teenager. This isn't your typical teenage love story. It's about teenagers, falling in love, who both have cancer. However, it's charismatic and honest diction does not make it another Lurlene McDaniel novel. There's depth and wisdom that cannot be found in most other young adult novels, and it's not entirely depressing

Hazel Grace, a 16-year old with terminal cancer meets Augustus at her cancer support group. There, she introduces him to her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction by Peter van Houten. Together, they start on the quest to meet their favorite author and find out what happened to the characters to the open-ended novel. Through this journey, they learn about love, friendship, death, and finding happiness, even when their time is short.

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, young or old. It's story is beautiful and it make's you think. The thoughts that John Green puts out are compelling and one's I think everyone should know- our days are limited, but despite that, joy can be found, and true and deep friendships can be made, no matter how sad the circumstances.

xo

Hannah