The End is HERE

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part ll

Jenny and I went to see the last and final Harry Potter movie at midnight. We lucked out because we ended up getting a double feature. We saw Part l @ 9pm and then Part ll @ midnight. I have to say, that was definitely the way to go. No waiting outside in a line all night, but sitting in a comfortable theater watching a movie instead!

We were prepared for the evening. Jenny was dressed up as Hermione and we had homemade "butterbeer" plus candy and popcorn to boot.

I have to say I have been looking forward to this movie for almost a whole year but it is bittersweet, because I know this will be the last time i will be going to see Harry Potter at a midnight showing.

Thank you and farewell Harry Potter the last 10 years have been so memorable!

Jen and I at Harry Potter

Book Club 2011

Book Club has started again. YAY!

I hosted the first meeting of the year. It was a small group (only 3 of us made it) but it was fun none the less. For the 1st meeting we got together and pick our reading for the year. I'm really excited for this years reading list. We have some really great books that made it on the list, and a few that didn't that will end up on my side reading... can't wait to begin!
HAPPY READING!

here is our reading list for the year...

FEB-The Book Thief by: Markus Zusak
MAR-Room: A Novel by: Emma Donoghue
APR-Sarah's Key by: Tatiana de Rosnay
MAY-Book of a Thousand Days by: Shannon Hale
JUNE-Peace Like a River by: Leif Enger
JULY-Chosen By a Horse by: Susan Richards
AUG-The Camel Bookmobile by: Masha Hamilton
SEP-The Screwtape Letters by: C.S. Lewis

alternate books
Water for Elephants by:Sara Gruen
Little Women by: Louisa May Alcott
The Glass Castle by: Jeannette Walls
The Giving Tree by: Shel Silverstein (maybe for NOV)
The Shack by: William P. Young

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part One

I don't know about you... But I'm super excited for this movie, which opens today!!! I can't wait to go see it.

Family Movie Night

I sometimes blog about movies or books that I have recently watched/read.

Well tonight as a family we watched When in Rome. I wasn't to thrilled on the idea when Anneke (who's in town visiting) brought it home, But i have to say it was a pretty darn cute movie.

It was a whole lot better than i expected, I'm actually thinking of buying this movie and adding it to my "sappy chick flick" list. It was a fun night in with the family and an entertaining movie for us all.

so if you're looking for a cute fun movie i suggest check this one out. you and your main squeeze can enjoy it together!

Books Here I Come!

It's official... I'm a library card holder!

Yesterday I went down to the HB Library and got my first ever library card. Now i get to read whatever i want and not have to worry about BUYING all those books! (this makes bill just as happy too)

First book checked out.....

Swimming Without a Net

I got Home from the library cracked up this book and finished it at about midnight. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I guess my next visit to the library I should pick up more than just one book... after all I don't want to waste my time or gas driving back and forth every day!

Girls Movie Night....

I have to dedicate this blog to Kim H.

I was really wanting to get out last night after working a 12+ hour day. So i basically dragged Kim out of her bed to go see this movie with me(a 10:10pm showing). She was such a great sport!

We get to the movie theater a little early so we decide to grab some golden spoon. As we sit and eat our frozen yogurt we look at the time and realize our movie started about 5 mins ago.

we book it out of golden spoon and head right into theater #1 (after all that's where the ticket taker directed us to go) as kim and i are sitting there watching the previews thanking our lucky stars we made it in time.

last preview ends and then the shock hits us.... opening scene is Jim Carry holding his cell phone...is this another preview???? Nope...playing in Theater #1 is "Yes Man" our movie "marley & me" is playing in theater #5 which by this time has been playing for about 20-25 mins.

Kim and I get up walk out and start laughing... i mean really who walks into the wrong theater, and thinks wow this place is running late... anyway we find the right theater sneak in and take our seats.

Can i just say...... WOW.... that was such a sad, but good movie. Not at all what i expected. Also along those lines i'm pretty impressed with Jennifer Aniston, i've never been a big fan of hers, but with this movie and "he's just not that into you" she's growing on me.

All i can say is THANK YOU KIM from saving me from a long hectic day and a lonely movie experience. I Had the best time last night!

Dinner and a Movie

Bill and I went out to dinner (cpk) and a movie (Taken) tonight. Dinner was delicious as always and the movie was amazing!

Few weeks ago when my brother Gerry was down from school he told me i should go see Taken. He said it was a really good movie and something i would really enjoy...... Well he was right. Bill and i both agree it was probably one of the better movies we've seen in a long time.

I was sitting at the edge of my seat the entire movie and bill was laughing at me because i kept saying things like..." he needs to get to the bridge" or "get a gun, get a gun" needless to say i was very into the movie. half way though i turned to bill and said this was one we HAVE to buy on DVD when it comes out!

here is the synopsis: The seventeen year-old Kim is the pride and joy of her father, the retired agent Bryan Mills that left the secret service to stay near Kim in California. Kim lives with her mother Lenore and her wealthy stepfather Stuart; she convinces the reluctant Bryan to sign an authorization to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. When they arrive, they share a cab with the stranger Peter and Amanda tells to him that they are alone in Paris. When Bryan succeeds in contacting his daughter, she tells that criminals have just break in the spot and they are kidnapped by an Albanese gang of human trafficking. Bryan promises in the phone to kill the kidnapper of his daughter and immediately travels to Paris to find Kim and chase the criminals.

a MUST read

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

This book did not make the list for my Book-Club, but I had to check it out anyway.

I'm somewhat of a fast reader (in lehman's terms... i have a lot of free time) so i needed a book to read in between this month and next months book.

This book was truly amazing and inspiring. I read it in one sitting (4 hours) i just couldn't put it down. The message in this book will change the way we look at our own lives and the lives of others.

Eddie is the main character, and there is nothing extraordinaire about this 83 year old man. He's the head maintenance person at Ruby Point Amusement Park. The Book begins with his death, and leads him into the beginning of his travel though heaven, meeting 5 very pivotal figures from his life here on earth.

With each person, he learns a lesson about life and the importance behind every action.

If you haven't picked up a good book lately, i highly suggest sitting down with this one, Even if you don't believe there is a heaven, this book may fill your soul with peace and calm. For every person heaven may be different.

Twilight....

It's a Love/Hate Relationship...

Last night or should i say early this morning I went to go see the very much anticipated movie Twilight. We had a pretty good size group going (10 of us all together). I was excited to see this movie bring to life the love story of Edward and Bella. Along with the entire Cullen Family.

I was very pleased with the movie and just as disappointed with it at the same time. The Books are just so GOOD. The imagination of Stephenie Meyer through out the twilight series as been amazing, they truly are wonderful books i could read and re-read over and over again. The Movie along with the actors had VERY big shoes to fill. I think the casting was perfect, and the way all the characters were portrayed stayed true to the books, BUT... they really could have done so much more with this movie.

So many great parts were left out and unnecessary things added in their place. Prime example is the scene where the students did blood typing, that's one of my favorites... it was replaced in the movie with a field trip. The scene in which Edwards walks into the sunlight(in the meadow) did not do the book justice! The way he shined in the movie was well done, but i felt like the scene it self was rushed... along with most of the movie.

Some things i did love about the movie, were the words on the page did transfer to the Silver Screen. My favorite scene in the movie was the baseball scene and i think that was done to perfection! also i just loved Emmett, he was just like the book (in the smalls parts he was in). And the scene in which Bella meets the entire Cullen Family is PRICELESS!

In the end, the movie is good but the book is better (as in most cases.) I know i'll buy it when it comes out on DVD, i also think i'll go see it again in the theatres. It's just fun to see a book you love so much come to life, i can only imagine how Stephenie feels.

Dexter....He's so Dreamy

I'm Obsessed! It's official. So a few weeks ago my sweet father in law sent me both season one and season two of this show called Dexter. Its about a guy named Dexter who works for the Miami Metro Police Dept as a blood splatter expert, the twist he's a serial killer! But he's a killer with a moral compass. He only kills the "bad guys."

So Bill and I have been held up in our house every night watching this series, lets just say we got the show about two weeks ago and we only have 3 episodes left on season two, the good news is that season three starts this Sunday! I can't wait and you bet I'll be done and ready to watch!

I don't know why i love this show so much, but i do. It's just so well written and interesting. I love the Characters especially Dexter and his girlfriend Rita. Bill i know is partial to the Cop Sgt. Doakes, he's absolutely entertaining and bill has made the comment a few times he wants to aspire to be just like Doakes. Personally i think Doakes is a little to salty, but then again he sure does know how to do good police work. If you haven't seen this show i highly recommend it. It's so worth it!

Dexter, Rita, The Whole Cast

Twilight series

Well I now have read the entire twilight series TWICE... yes that's right i did say twice, and i really enjoyed it both times. I've been reading things on the internet about the fourth and final book, but i have to disagree with what's out there. I thought the last book was just as good as the first three. Alot of people were saying how disappointed they were with the final book. I thought Stephenie Meyer ended the book and tied up all loose ends very well, Like i said i read them all twice so they had to be good right? I've told all of my friends (most of whom were introduced to the series by me) i don't have a favorite book i look at the four books as chapters to one BIG book. So for me to think that, i would have to say Stephenie did end the series the best way possible!

If you haven't started reading these books... i say you should at least take a look at the first one, i swear you'll be hooked by the end of chapter one! readers enjoy!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

OK so i have been re-reading the Harry Potter series and after each book i watch the movie. (it gives me something to do at night while the hubby pants is working) anyhow.... i just finished the 4Th book Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. It was a better book than i remember the first couple times i read it.

So here i am thinking I'll watch the movie tonight and enjoy myself this evening.... WOW was i wrong. i liked the movie but lets just say the only thing it had in common with the book was the title. yes for those of you who have watched and read the movies/books you'll have to agree. it's just a little upsetting that the movie left out some of the best parts in the book. i understand it can't have every little detail that the book has... but i mean this movie left out SO much. one of the best parts is in the beginning of the book when the weasleys go to get harry from his aunt and uncles. movie totally left that all out. sad to say it was quite depressing to watch the movie after i had just finished the book.

so anyway i understand that people don't want to sit through a super long movie (i myself would sit through a 4 hour harry potter movie) but come on look at the Lord of the Rings movies. they were like 3 hours long and the first 2 movies were so boring! i just think the people making the Harry Potter movies should consider trying to stay true to the books. It is a wonderful series to read and very enjoyable. i wouldn't even mind if they broke it up into 2 movies I'd go see it and it wouldn't be a bad marketing move (the Harry Potter fan base is Pretty BIG). well i was just venting about my feelings.

even if you don't read the books the movies are still pretty good and i think everyone should watch them. the series is a great family series, it's something the whole family can do together which i feel is very important these days. families should spend more quality time together, but like I've said before NOTHING beats reading the books.