Show me the books he loves and I shall know the

man far better than through mortal friends.

Dawn Adams

I was chatting with my friend Ashley and she was talking about how she wanted to get more into reading. She knows what a book lover I am (thanks to my mother!) and requested I send her some of my favorite books and authors so she could start some of my selections and hopefully find what she really loves.

I compiled quite the list so I thought I'd share and also see if any of you had additions.

First I shared with her two great websites that help when picking your next book:

Literature Map (shows in comparison other authors to one you like)
What Should I Read Next (you enter the book you just read and it suggests others you may like)

Then I listed my favorite authors (I love everything each wrote!):

• Wally Lamb
• Anita Shreve
• Curtis Sittenfeld
• Anne Rivers Siddons
• Rebecca Wells
• Jennifer Weiner
• Alice Sebold

...and my favorite books that came to mind by other authors:

• The Hours by Michael Cunningham
• Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro
• What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us by Danielle Crittenden
• Evening by Susan Minot
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
• If I am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus
• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Any other you'd like to share?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• My momma arrives on Thursday!
• SNOW on the ground and dusting all the blooming flowers - cold, but just so pretty.
• Watching John McCain on Meet the Press.
• Finding a new hair stylist here in St. Louis and loving the results!
• The smell of a fresh bag of coffee.

I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.

Rodney Dangerfield

On Thursday night we had the treat of going to our first St. Louis Blues game. Even better that the tickets we were given were for a suite! The arena, Scottrade Center, is a beautiful place and the game was so fun!

At the main atrium of Scottrade

View from our suite

Ready to watch the game!

Go Blues!

One should eat to live, not live to eat.

Cicero, Rhetoricorum LV

Now in fresh marital bliss I had certainly reached the point where I was uncomfortable with my weight. It is jokingly called "The Newlywed Nine." I knew I had to take control of my eating habits and the one and only program that has ever worked for me to lose weight is Weight Watchers. About two years ago I lost 12 pounds and I'm on my way to do it again (and keep it off!). I really love the program because it allows me to cook, eat out and enjoy food but learn to control my portions and choices.

I had my first weigh in on Wednesday and I lost 3 pounds! I already feel so much better and I am proud of my control in what I eat and what I pass on (like those gourmet cupcakes sitting in my office kitchen). So I won't dedicate a lot of posts to Weight Watchers but I will try to keep my weigh in results up to date and be sure to share an great recipes that I try out.

Here's to being a skinny-mini wife!

Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept.

Doug Larson

I'm really excited because tonight we're going to our first St. Louis Blues game! A member at Nick's club graciously offered us some extra tickets so it will be a nice little night with my husband!

Laughter is an instant vacation.

Milton Berle

I was reading my Self magazine and one of the "get happy" tips was to visit YouTube and search "laughing baby." I smiled to myself because I already had one of those great videos bookmarked on my laptop. This one makes you giggle not just because of the baby but also because you can hear the father laughing just has hard.

On these rainy Spring afternoons it is the perfect pick me up so I just had to share!

I play in the low 80s. If it's any hotter than that, I won't play.
Joe E. Lewis

Nick and I took advantage of the recent beautiful St. Louis weather to play golf on Sunday. Ah, the benefits of being married to a golf professional - nice demo clubs, free rounds and not really having to play once I'm bored.

We played 9 holes in the late afternoon and enjoyed each other's company, the cool breeze and the very loud geese on the 15th hole. All in all a lovely afternoon with my talented husband!

Gotta love a man in a good polo shirt.

My trick is looking like I really know what I'm doing. And I don't.

I love seeing him in his element - so handsome!

Beautiful blooming trees all around the course. Notice that I am taking pictures. Not playing golf.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Opening up the windows and doors to let in the cool (but not cold anymore!) air in the afternoon.
• Say Yes to the Dress on TLC.
• Neighborhood yards blooming with daffodils.
• How there is a small pile of Bella's toys on the bed when I wake up - she brings me presents!
• Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat - yum!

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair.

Samuel Johnson

Anytime you move to a new city it can always be hard to make new friends. I think I've done pretty well getting out there with both Tri Delta alumna group and joining Junior League. Still while I now have many acquaintances, I just didn't have any close friends that I could just call for a movie or to carpool to an event.

But now I have Sarah and I'm so thankful! We met through Tri Delta and joined Junior League together and it's nice to have a partner in crime. Her and her new beau are coming over for dinner tonight. We're grilling steaks and just enjoying each other's company.

So on this rainy Saturday, here's to new friends in our new city (and a yummy dinner too!).

Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.

Henri Matisse

I can finally, once again, appreciate the joy of FRIDAY! Everything went well at work this week and I'm enjoying getting in the groove of my new daily schedule. I was invited to attend an off-site client meeting yesterday and have taken on some new projects that have allowed me to show my overall capabilities.

I'm looking forward to a nice weekend!

Happiness is a warm puppy.

Charles M. Schulz

After Ashley's wedding in Las Vegas, I had an extra evening to spend before my flight left on Monday. I didn't want to drop more money on another night at the Wynn alone or have to be in some random hotel by the airport so it worked out perfectly that my college roommate RaeAnna's sister Rachel and her fiance Rob live right in Las Vegas.

They picked us both up from the Wynn and we enjoyed a relaxing dinner at their home and were able to dip our feet in the hot tub too. It was so nice to be in a home instead of a hotel and not have to pay $5 for a glass of orange juice!

The best part of my mini stay with them were their French Bulldogs. Sassy and Guinness are about 6 months old and literally the cutest, squirmy bundle of snorts and wrinkles you ever did see. They were certainly a warm and fuzzy ending to my Las Vegas trip!

Relaxing in PJs with Sassy (on the left) and Guinness

RaeAnna with Sassy

It's hard to imagine a bigger desert oasis than Las Vegas.

Cinnamon Stomberger

I left for Vegas early Wednesday morning and returned on Monday. It really was a wonderful trip and I was so glad I went early for the opportunity to help Ashley, enjoy the wedding and also explore the sites.

We stayed at the Wynn where the wedding also took place. It was a beautiful hotel and after seeing some others (The Venetian, Bellagio and Palms) I still liked our pick best!

View from the pool

On Thursday night we celebrated Ashley's bachelorette! It was nice so many people could make it early to join her including old friends, bridal party members and family including her aunts and grandma. We went out to dinner at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba across the street from the Wynn in Fashion Show Mall and then back to Ashley's room for games and presents.

With the bachelorette before dinner

On Friday morning we all attending the rehearsal for the wedding and then joined together for lunch at one of Ashley and CJ's favorite Las Vegas restaurants near their home called Sammy's. It was very delicious and nice to sit outside on the patio and chat.

With Ashley and Melissa at the rehearsal lunch

It was nice to have a rehearsal lunch on Friday because it left our evening open to explore Las Vegas. Melissa and I went and saw Bellagio (loved the fountains and the botanical gardens) then went over to Palms to have dinner and popped into to see the Playboy Club. It was a perfect Vegas evening!

In front of Bellagio facing Paris

A nice man at the Playboy Club tipped this bunny to take a picture with us!

Saturday was the big wedding day and because the ceremony didn't begin until 7:30 p.m. we relaxed at the pool and in our room. I then went down with the other bridesmaids to take pictures and then head to the wedding. It was a fabulous trip with close friends and a little travel exploration thrown in too!

Tri Delta love!

Husband and wife!

Best of friends - I'm so glad I was able to celebrate with her!

When Irish eyes are smiling,

sure 'tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter,

You can hear the angels sing.

Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr.

The luck of the Irish was with me at my first day at my new job!

My mom sent me beautiful flowers too! They are bright and cheery on my new desk and it was a great new beginning!

I hope you all wore green (whether Irish by blood or just in your heart) and enjoyed St. Patrick's Day.

Clovers from Nick that he brought to me at the airport when I arrived home from Vegas - pictures to come!

Las Vegas is sort of like how God would do it if he had money.

Steve Wynn

Early Wednesday morning I'll be on a plane to Las Vegas!

I'm so excited to celebrate with Ashley and her soon-to-be-husband's wedding weekend. Nick is staying home and I'll be sharing a room with my friend Melissa. I'm looking forward to not only doing all the wedding stuff but also spending time with old friends.

I have a lot of laundry and packing to do between now and then so I'll post lots of pictures when I return early next week!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Finally having a full time job!
• My mom booked her ticket to come visit in April!
• The lovely warm weather we've had recently - I've never lived in St. Lous when it wasn't cold.
• The Sopranos re-runs on A & E.
• My wonderful Junior League new member advisor, Jennifer, treating me to Starbucks.

Don't wear perfume in the garden - unless you want to be pollinated by bees.

Anne Raver

Do you have a signature scent?

Barefoot in the Park shared that she didn't really have one but did have a few favorites (that I'll have to give a try too!).

I have worn Ralph Lauren Romance since I was maybe 17. My mom always jokes she can't smell it on me so I probably don't wear enough but I still love it. Before that I used to wear Tommy Hilfiger's Tommy Girl - the smell still reminds me of freshman year high school football games!

The only other scent I have found that I really love is Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely. If I ever strayed from Romance, I'd get that.

What is your favorite perfume?

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

Thomas Jefferson

Remember that problem I mentioned the other day about possibly going from having no employment to two jobs?

Well, I'm going to be a busy girl with my new job! YIPPEE!

This one is even more exciting than the part time job because this is full time and in my field. It is just such a relief to finally have a new position that continues along my career path. I was worried I'd eventually have to find some random, non-related position that I hated. Instead I was literally handed this position and start in a week and a half.

It just felt right. I like the partners, their strong client list and atmosphere of the office.

I'm going to work this new job for a few weeks and then go back to my part time job maybe a night or two during the week or Sunday afternoons. It will be nice to have the extra money and not be sitting home alone when Nick's hours continue to increase as we enter the warmer months.

Thanks for all of your kind words and hooray for my new job!

Polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.

Lord Chesterfield

With my work in public relatons and marketing I've done my share of (minimal) "photoshopping" images or seen photographers handle it. Remove a few leaves on the ground here, make the sky more blue there... all with great results.


But this site, Photoshop Disasters, just makes me giggle.


A few of my recent favorites include:

A series of photos with Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes "together." Too bad only one of his arms has a jacket sleeve.




Crazy Nordstrom model with an extremely long neck:

A drawn-in belly button in a Victoria's Secret catalog:

With all the computer mastery that can happen these days keep your eyes out for some bad Photoshop examples - I'll submit some to the site too!

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
Aristotle

Just an update on the job front:

Everything with my new part time gig is going well. I've worked two days over the weekend and then work again tomorrow and I really like it. It's a specialty toystore so I get to be around happy children playing with the train table and parents buying birthday gifts. Easy-peasy and just overall a nice way to spend the day and make some money.

I also have an interview with a company tomorrow that came from a networking contact. At first it was just informational but I found out today that they now have an opening so I'm betting that will go well too!

I hope I have the problem of too many jobs to handle!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Peach yogurt with breakfast
• Starting a new Anne Rivers Siddons book
• Knowing I'm getting a paycheck on Friday
• Molly the baby giraffe
• The smell of a wood burning fireplace