Catching Up Over Coffee - April 29, 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

April 29, 2018 - My sister and I have been working crazy, opposite schedules this year and I have been sick twice. We haven't been able to see each other since Christmas! But, we were finally able to make plans to get together and after doing some Googling, came across a place that sounds like it was made for us - CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT.

My sister had to work on this Sunday morning, so we decided to meet at about 2pm at the dessert bar. It is quite difficult to find a coffee shop or bakery that is open past 2pm on Sundays. CBBG is open until 7pm on Sundays!

Fortunately, there is a large parking lot behind the plaza where CBBG is located. I arrived a couple of minutes after my sister and we walked into the shop together. My first reaction as we walked in was that it was a little smaller than I expected. The entire place consisted of a bar made of pennies (as seen in the picture above), one display case, and about five or six tables. There was one other group sitting there when we arrived. 

My sister and I were able to taste a sample of coffee that the gentleman behind the counter had just mixed up. It was based on a fire hot candy and had a little more spice than I normally have, but it was tasty. My sister didn't like the taste, but she loved the pink color. 

After ordering our coffees, we had to pick what we wanted to eat. She chose a brownie that was covered in fudge and topped with an Oreo. I settled on a red velvet cupcake that was filled and topped with cheesecake. 

My favorite part of these coffee dates is being able to catch up with my sister. I was so happy that we were able to take our time and didn't feel rushed while we were sitting there. 

I liked my cupcake, but was a little disappointed with the flavor of the cheesecake filling and the fact that the frosting was buttercream and not cheesecake. My S'mores coffee was quite tasty. My sister enjoyed her brownie and caramel latte. 

CBBG Dessert Bar is located on a main road, at the road side of a plaza that goes back from the street. It was easier to get to for both my sister and for me. If the weather had been just a little warmer, we would have sat outside, but it was drizzling, so we sat by the door inside. 

Overall, I recommend visiting CBBG Dessert Bar if you are in the area or passing through. If you do, be sure to let me know.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor
Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam
Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 


October, 2017 - Now that all of the wedding stuff has quieted down, my sister and I have tried to get back into meeting for coffee once a month. However, that is proving difficult. She has started working a more steady schedule at a restaurant, which means a lot of nights and weekends. With my office job, I work a Monday through Friday office schedule. 

Four months since our last date, we finally found some time that worked for both of us. This was mostly because I was already planning a trip up to pick up an end table from a friend's mother who lived a town over from where we decided to meet. It was raining by the time I was down putting the table in my car and heading to the cafe, but I didn't really mind. On the other hand, my sister ended up sleeping in later than she expected and was about an hour late meeting me (not for the first time). 

Finally! My sister and I found a coffee place that actually does designs with the foam! This is what I have been waiting for! Fortunately, the lattes were tasty because I was not impressed with the food. I was excited when I saw bundt cake, but it was dry and not very flavorful. My sister said her pastry was good at least. 

It was really cool to visit a place that added the designs to the foam. It was also fun to be in a coffee shop that served coffee four ways - drip, pour over, French press, and siphon - I believe. Walking into their cafe looks a little like walking into an old-timey laboratory. There are copper pipes everywhere and the staff wear aprons. The limited seating that there is lends itself to meeting new people, which is nice, but my sister and I were trying to spend some quality time together. The two top tables that they did have seemed to be the first to be filled. All of the people where were there seemed to be studying for some class or other, so we felt we should try to be a little quieter than normal as to not disturb them. 

Overall, I could see myself popping back in there to grab a coffee while walking around the area if I ever find myself back in that part of the state. I'm looking forward to trying out the next location.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

June, 2017 - With all of the wedding prep, my sister and I saw a lot of each other between January and May of 2017, so we took a bit of a break from our regularly scheduled coffee dates. Before I go over seas on my honeymoon, I wanted to make sure to get one more coffee trip in with my sister. 

This time, we decided to visit a place that I just knew we would both love as soon as I heard the name, Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam. 

I read about their story online, sent my sister a link, and then we immediately made plans on when to meet. It took each of us about an hour to get to from our respective homes, and boy was it worth the trip! Not only was the coffee delicious, the food was too, including the ice cream! 

My sister and I ate our food inside at one of the many tables and chairs. The cafe is built inside an old house, and so it feels as if you are eating at a friend's home. Up the small ramp to the left of the counter, we found three or four small rooms that were filled with an eclectic mix of furniture. Every wall and the ceiling was covered with decor, mostly of the feline sort. 

After we finished our food, we went back up front to order ice cream, which we then took with us outside to the back yard where we found a fountain, a small patch of grass, and some trees. We had the yard to ourselves the whole time we were there. It was a nice day, but not a great day, so I could see why it wasn't as busy as it should have been. 

On our way out to the parking lot, we saw that even the concrete sidewalk had been cat-ified:

I believe my sister has already been back to this cafe with some friends of hers. I know I'll be back the next time I go to a show at Goodspeed Opera House, which is less than a mile down the street from Two Wrasslin' Cats

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

January, 2017 - Thirteen months after saying yes, and less than four months before the big day, it was past time for me to pick out bridesmaids dresses. I had gone once before with my best friend and narrowed my choices down to two, but I couldn't decide. I wanted to see how one of my other bridesmaids would look in the dress. So, I made an appointment at David's Bridal in Manchester with my sister. 

Unfortunately, it snowed all day the day of the appointment. Manchester is over an hour away from me, but I figured if I drove slowly and carefully, I would be fine. I was right. There were hardly any cars on the highway compared to normal rush hour traffic. My sister got to the appointment on time and started to try on the first dress. I made it there soon after. 

We video chatted with our other sister and decided to go with the second dress. I love how it works with my dress! 

After the appointment, we were planning on going to a cute little coffee shop in South Windsor, but they ended up being closed due to the snow. We did try calling and no one picked up but there was no message saying they were closed. We decided to drive over to the plaza to check. 

Fortunately, there were lots of little shops in the shopping plaza, including a few tea shops. Even the Ben & Jerry's served coffee and tea. By this time, we were hungry, so we decided to try NIX. We thought they had coffee and tea, but they only had regular Lipton tea. The food, however, was great!

I had the ahi tuna salad with a lemon vinaigrette and my sister had risotto and a side of mac and cheese, which she claimed was the best mac & cheese she has ever had. It did look good, but it was the last day of my Whole30 challenge, and I didn't give in!

Even though we didn't have coffee, we still had a great conversation and a great meal. It counts.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford

Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 

Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

December, 2016 - So much for meeting up once a month for coffee! For four months in a row we were good, but then life got in the way. My sister and I saw each other now and then with the rest of the family, but we didn't go out for coffee just the two of us, so it doesn't count for this blog. 

We finally got a chance to catch up over coffee in December. My sister has recently taken up sewing after watching 10+ seasons of Project Runway. She bought herself a nice Brother sewing machine and has found that she has some skill. I asked her if should would be able to make my wedding veil and she said yes. We decided to meet up at Jo-Ann Fabric in Southington so that we could also go out for coffee in a different town as well. 

Before I headed up to Southington, I did a quick search online and found a coffee shop that was close to Jo-Ann Fabric called Caffe del Mondo. 

The Caffe was rather small and quiet with a few rustic style wood tables and chairs. A long bench was built into the side wall opposite the door. To the left of the door was a charming fireplace with big comfy chairs. 

For food, my sister could not resist the gingerbread cookie and I had the cinnamon twist. For coffee, she had an iced coffee and I had a Milky Way latte. This turned out not to be our favorite place. My food was dry and the coffee was alright but not great. The service was average. 

Would we go back? Maybe for a quick coffee fix if we happen to be back in the area, but I'm not planning a special trip. 

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire

Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's Bakery Wallingford

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

March, 2016 - My sister and I actually have one more sister who lives in Wallingford. We all met at her place and chatted for awhile before the two of us headed out to chat at our March coffee stops. 

We actually decided to go to two places this month - Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe and Mr. D's Bakery. These two places are practically next door to each other. First we had dinner at Half Moon, and then went to Mr. D's for cupcakes and coffee. 

We weren't really impressed with Half Moon, though it wasn't bad. The clear winner was Mr. D's Bakery. To be fair, it's not really a competition. Mr. D's offers cupcakes, ice cream, toys, and candy, which are much more exciting than coffee. As we walked into Mr. D's, my sister said something to the effect of wanting to move in and never leave!

One of the first items that draws your eye as you walk into the store is a carousel horse. 

There are actually a couple of these around the store, but the others can be missed, believe it or not, because they are surrounded by bright, fun toys, and cupcakes.

Oh, the cupcakes! I don't know how anyone could have just one. My sister and I each ate one there and brought a box of six home for later (and to share).


We each had another medium coffee while we ate our carefully chosen cupcakes. A few unoccupied tables were tucked out of the way in a corner near the front window, where we were able to enjoy our treats and take a more careful look at our surroundings.

Below are some photos of the rest of the store.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the post from January, 2016: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

January, 2016 - My sister and I met one evening in late January for some dinner and coffee at a small cafe in Manchester, CT. We had decided to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state.

For our first outing, we met closer to her home. She lives about an hour north of me with our father, so I got a chance to see him as well. Since we were in her area, she got to pick where we would go and chose The Landmark Cafe. 

I got there first and picked a table, which was a bit of a challenge for me because each table was unique and had its own charm. Even each set of salt and pepper shakers were different. I picked one and sat down to wait. 

My sister and I ended up ordering sweet potato fries for an appetizer, which came with a mayo based dipping sauce, which was very tasty. She had a Alfredo pasta dish and I got a veggie wrap. Both were quite tasty. 

After dinner, we finally got to the coffee. We learned that Landmark Cafe has specialty lattes and mochas, which made our night. My sister ordered the Caramello and I had the Banana Fudge (closer mug). Both were very delicious! 

The Caramello tasted just like you would expect a latte version of the candy bar to taste. The thick foam carried the taste of the toasted marshmallow and smooth caramel from mug, over taste buds, and into the stomach. It was a joy to sip. 

Sweet chocolate and creamy banana pair so well, it seems, in any form. Each sip of the Banana Fudge latte was a treat. This is the kind of experience I hope to have each time I order a latte. 

Now for the real test - would I visit this cafe again? The answer is yes. In fact, I already have. I happened to be back in Manchester to go wedding dress shopping and brought my entire party here for lunch. They all enjoyed it as well! 

If you want to learn more about our coffee adventures and why we are doing this, read the first post, Catching Up Over Coffee 

Next - Catching Up Over Coffee - February at Focaccia's Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee

My youngest sister and I are 9 years apart and live an hour away from each other in the same state. We have just a few things in common. One of them happens to be coffee. 

At the end of 2015, we decided to be more proactive in our relationship. Between the age difference and the miles between us, it was very easy for us to go months without speaking to each other. We were each living our own lives in our own little worlds and not working on our relationship or making it a priority.

I started this post by saying my youngest sister and I... which would rightly imply that I have another sister. In fact, I have another sister and a brother. My other sister just had a baby, which is a naturally good reason for us to see and talk to each other. My brother and I have been in touch regularly and have a common interest in tech.

With so many of us in my family and so much always going on, I decided it was time to focus on my relationship with my youngest sister. One day late last year, she mentioned that she liked coffee. We started talking about coffee and cafes and realized that we finally had something in common. I suggested that we travel all over our home state of Connecticut, and visit a coffee shop once a month. We would get to see the state and catch up with each other while sharing our shared love of coffee. She loved the idea, so we picked a date in January to start.

I decided that I wanted to blog about our experience and the different coffee shops and towns that we will visit, so here it is! This blog will focus on the coffee shops and towns and not so much on our relationship because that is our business.

As we visit more places, I will keep the updated list with links to the individual posts here.

January at The Landmark Cafe in Manchester, CT

February at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton, CT

March at Half Moon Coffee House and Grille and Cafe in Wallingford, CT (and Mr. D's)

April at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire, CT

December at Caffe del Mondo in Southington, CT

January at NIX in South Windsor CT

June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam, CT

October 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford, CT

April 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT 

NaNoWriMo 2014 Day 5 - Behind & Distracted

I am 2 days behind in my word count and trying to stay focused on my story. It has been especially difficult today since today was the day we laid my Grandmother to rest.

NaNo has become a way to distract myself from the sadness and a way to keep doing something besides mourn. However, trying to focus and write is difficult since I do have all of these emotions to deal with. I find myself procrastinating by checking Tumblr and Facebook even more than usual.

It doesn't help that I have also been thinking in terms of stories (as I do every November) and have come up with another idea for another story. I want to write this new story while these emotions are fresh since it has to deal with the events surrounding my Grandmother's passing.

Instead of writing a full length story, I will attempt to write it in one paragraph:

Grandmother's Passing
My Grandmother passed away Halloween night. They say that Halloween is a special night during the year. It is the time when the vale between the living and the dead is at its weakest, making it easier for the dead to cross back into the world of the living. My Grandmother's husband and youngest son, who have both passed on years ago, realized this and came to see her. She was unsure about crossing over and they came to help her break free from the suffering of this world and join them. She smiled when she saw them and, after a long conversation, decided it was time. She was in fact done with this world and was ready to move on. That was when her journey with this life came to a close.

Winter Blues

This winter really seemed to get to me. Not only did we get a lot of snow, it also seemed very dark and long.

Spring is right around the corner and the days are getting longer, but I still feel drained and lethargic most of the time.

There have been moments when I felt motivated and ready to take on the world, but there were also many times when I felt like doing nothing.

Winter blues, go away. I need to make sure this is my year!

Monday

Today was Monday. It was also a good day. In fact, it was one of the best days I have had in awhile. I just had to post about it so I can remember how it was.

First, I walked into work and everybody said, in unison, "There she is. Good Morning!"

Then, I found out that I was on my own in my department, which is my preferred way to work.

Next, I found out that my job is not only paying for my leadership and community training class that I was invited to, but they're paying for my time so don't have to use PTO time.

After that was lunch when I realized that the city if finally repaving the road I work off of.

The meeting I was running after work went smoothly and was fun.

Finally, I came home to dinner in the oven. My boyfriend had gone doing and was making dinner for us.

Now thats what I call a good day. Tuesday, bring it on. Let's see what you have in store.

Books I have read in 2013 - The Great Gatsby

What can I say that hasn't been said already about this book?

The Great Gatsby has been on my reading list for some time now and since there is a new movie coming out, I figured now was add good a time as any (if not better) to read it.

The story starred off a little slow, but by the time I finished reading, I wished it was longer. Even a couple of weeks after I have finished reading, I still think about the book and its characters.

Books I Have Read in 2013

Brisingr (Inheritance, #3) 
by Christopher Paolini 

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Coming to the end of a series is always bittersweet. I finally found out how the story concluded, but since it was so great, I did not want it to be over. 

In this third book, Eragon and his companions finally get to confront the villain. The only part of this book that did not surprise me was that Eragon was able to find a way to defeat Galbatorix. I was a little surprised that he did not get the girl (Arya) in the end.

Besides those two points, Paolini was able to keep me guessing. I did not know what would come next.

I looked forward to the times when I was able to read this book, which says a lot about it. 

My Epic Fail of a Morning

So, I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm. I turned it off and promptly fell back to sleep. Now, this is not unusual for me, but I don't usually stay asleep for more than five minutes.

Not today.

The next time I opened my eyes, the clock read 7:25AM. I panicked and jumped out from under the nice warm blankets.

Thank goodness it's Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow, I thought to myself only to realize a moment later that it was actually Thursday. :(

I grabbed some cereal and returned to my bed. Recently, I have started to sit on my bed while I eat my breakfast while I check my email and Facebook messages.

As soon as I finished eating, I rushed around to complete the other morning rituals: put on makeup, pick out an outfit, feed the dog, get dressed... That sort of thing.

By this time, it was 7:48 and I had to be to work at 8. Granted I work 7 minutes away from my apartment, but I normally try to leave by 7:46, just in case there is traffic or something.

I prepared my bag lunch with a salad and yogurt from the fridge and placed it on the kitchen table along with my purse, book, and everything else I needed to take with me. Then I put my earmuffs, coat, and gloves on then grabbed the dog leash. A recent cold spell had plunged the temperature down to the teens and below the past couple of days and it was almost impossible to get too bundled up.

A new wave of panic rushed over me. Where is my cell phone? It is supposed to be right here! My cell phone had seemed to vanish. Normally I place it on the table next to my purse, but it was not there.

For the next 5 minutes, I ran around the apartment searching desperately for the small device. Time was something I could not waste at the moment.

Finally, I decided that I had to leave. I put my lunch back in the fridge and made a mental plan to come home on my lunch to search for the phone again.

I took the dog on the quickest walk ever, then darted back inside to drop her off and grab what I needed.

It was 8:00 by the time I pulled out of my parking space. Being late to work by a couple of minutes was not completely unusual for me, but I still disliked it.

One of the tires on my car had a slow leak and needed to filled with air again. This meant that I needed to be more cautious about taking tight and sharp turns, which slowed me down.

At the second stop light on my trail to the office, which is about a quarter mile away from where I started, I was stopped by a red light. There was one car in front of me. I did not feel good about this.

Sure enough, the light turned green, but the car in front of me did not move. I tried to honk, but my car must have been too cold. It did not make a peep.

Finally, just before the light changed again, it started rolling forward slowly. Of course, it was headed in the same direction I was.

We continued on the same path, traveling at 25 mph in a 35 mph zone.

About a mile later, we entered the highway and I was able to pass the snail car.

At 8:06 by my car clock, I pulled into my spot in front of my office building. I shut the car down and bolted inside, heading straight for the time clock to punch in.

I ended up punching in at 8:07:40, which meant that I was officially late by 40 seconds. Instead of getting credit for working 8 hours, I would end up with 7 hours 45 minutes. That meant Accounting would allocate 15 minutes of my PTO (paid time off) to cover this 15 minutes automatically. I was planning on leaving a couple of minutes late for lunch and returning a couple of minutes early, but that doesn't ever seem to matter.

Now, I do not mind that so much except that they change my hours each day to make it easier for payroll. Say I punch in at 8:01, out for lunch at 12:00, back in at 1:03, and out for the day at 5:02. My hours would be changed to be 8:00, 12:00, 1:02, 5:02 (or something comparable . In that case, I always wonder why they would not change my hours to say that I got to work on time.

After punching in, I walked to the coat rack and began removing my coat and accessories. I checked the pockets once again for my phone, but to no avail. I placed my gloves and hat on the top shelf, wrapped the scarf around my coat hanger along with my coat.

As soon as I saw what shirt I was wearing, I remembered what had happened. This shirt has a front pocket like a hand warmer. I reached in with one hand and felt it. My hand came out of the pocket clutching my cell phone. I felt like an idiot.

As I walked back to my desk, I realized the full extent of the situation. I had left my lunch and book at home because I was sure I would have to go back to get my phone. Now I had my phone, but nothing to eat or read!

I sat down and shook my head. What a morning!

Fortunately, the rest of the day went fairly well and was uneventful. Thank goodness!

Books I Read in 2013

Reading is a fun pastime for me. This year, I want to write a little something about each book that I finish. At the end of the year, I will be able to see how many I was able to get through. I highly doubt that I will reach 300 like some of my friends, but it will be interesting to see how many I can fit into my schedule. Here is my 1st review of 2013 from Goodreads.com:


Eldest by Christopher Paolini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Following the story from the main character's point of view alone would have made this book a few hundred pages smaller, but not nearly as interesting.

Every few chapters, the plot is advanced by a different character. First we follow Eragon, then his cousin Roran, then the leader of the Varden, Nasuada. Fortunately, it is easy to catch up with each of them no matter where they last left off.

Although the book is 651 pages, it is an easy read and there are very few boring sections. The last 50 or so pages are jam packed with plot twists and excitement.

View all my reviews

"Carol Of My Car"

I really hate my car
I can't go near or far
Each time I turn the wheel
Something inside it squeals

There's always something wrong
Oh no, now what was that gong?
It's just a hunk of junk
Or is it just my bad luck?


The dash is lit like a tree
This always happens to me
No matter what I do
There's always something new

A trip to the store
Is never a bore
From underneath the hood
Never comes anything good

Please just get me through winter
I'll be sure to treat it better
Or by summer I might
have a new car in my sights

Okay, well I will definitely not be able to afford a new car by summer, but a girl can dream. It's January 2nd, and a tire on my car popped. The last one had to be replaced on Halloween. That makes 2 new tires in less than 3 months and I think another one is about ready to die. Hopefully, this will be my bad luck for the year and it will be all uphill from here.

Here Comes 2013 - Happy New Year!

Hard to believe Christmas is already over this year and New Year's Eve is almost upon us.

Here are a few of my New Year's Resolutions:

1. Be happy more often. 2012 was a trying year, but I am really looking forward to 2013.
2. Work on time management. January is already booking up quickly, so staying on top of my schedule will be key.
3. Make fitness a habit, not a chore. Walk more, make healthier food choices, learn more about nutrition, and choose fun activities that include being active.
4. Stay organized. I have set up some good systems this year. Now the trick will be to keep them up.
5. Get more involved. I am already on the board of a young pros group, but in 2013, I have also agreed to help out a non profit called My City Kitchen. Hopefully, I will be able to learn a lot from the experience while using my skills to help them get their word out.

Here's to 2013. May the new year bring you health, wealth, and happiness!

Sincerely,
Kayleigh Apicerno

Kayleigh's Favorite Quotes - Motivational

"Well, what are you gonna do"

"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best"

"It is what it is"

"So it goes"

"Don't sweat the small stuff"

"Shit happens"

All of these quotes have something in common. They deal with what is out of our control. These quotes tend to be said often and not without reason. Not much in this life can be controlled, so deal with it.

-Kayleigh

Something For Everyone To Remember

Hello,

I found this someecard today and wanted to share it because it is so true. And I really do wish everyone could be happy. When you are happy, and I mean actually happy, everything seems better and brighter. 

I have been depressed and I have been truly happy. Let me tell you, happy is always better. And this goes for everyone. I want everyone to be happy. What a wonderful life this could be.

Happy Day,
Kayleigh

Fall Is Here

Dunkin Donuts has pumpkin coffee and there is a slight chill in the air! This can only mean one thing...Fall is here! I know Labor Day isn't until Monday, but why not start now?

Happy Day!
Kayleigh