That Girl
What’s Jack up to? Chilling and doing a darn good job of it don’t ya think?
I’m sorry yet another bag post this week, but this one could not wait.
Am I really That Girl? You know what I think I am. Thanks to Kaitlyn’s Momma and her great sale tip I’ve gone over the edge and become a Vera Bradley girl. I have to say that over the years I’ve gone into many shops and admired Vera Bradley pieces but felt they were a little dated for me. Not anymore. These are not your grandma’s handbags. Ok, so maybe they are, but you and I are cool enough to carry them off.
Check out the 3 wild, kitschy, cool and I think beautiful pieces that I snagged for Spring for a song. No, not a song really, cold hard cash, but not too much of it that I’m feeling the least bit remorseful.
Don’t you love this baby? Perfect for just a quick run to the store and it weighs next to nothing.
What about this wallet that doubles as a clutch. The colors are so much fun. And the workmanship is fabulous.
The Super tote is big enough to fit a few outfits, a couple of pairs of shoes and I could even throw Jack in there for good measure. Oh and it’s washable! My only wish is that it had a zipper. So I’m going to put one in so that I can really travel carefree with it.
Time for a weekend getaway! I wish.Where would you run off to if you could make a quick 3 day getaway? Me? I think I’d take a quick run to the Bahamas or maybe Bermuda. I can use some blue water right about now. Now for a longer getaway it would be a cruise for sure I’ve never been on one. Greece or Italy. Yes!
Best,
Kwana
Clubbing It
Happy April Fool’s Day. I hope yours is a quiet one and any jokes played are indeed playful.
In honor of April Fool’s Day I’m joining in with other bloggers for a worthy cause: April Food Day. Bloggers getting together for very worthy cause. I don’t have to tell you my friends what’s going on. Times are tougher than ever.
People who never had a worry before are now turning to food banks for help and finding that the shelves are bare. There is not enough food being donated to meet the sudden rise in demand.
Every dollar contributed provides seven meals or 10 pounds of food. A gift of $25 provides 75 meals. If you’d like to make a donation to Feeding America (formally second harvest) click here. You can make a difference today.
Now without any appropriate transition except to say I am truly blessed, last night I attended our first meeting of our newly formed book/social club. Now I think we’ve come up with just the right way of how to handle a book club unlike some of the clubs from this NYT article I blogged about here. We decided to make the club not too heavy, but lighter, more low key by not having anyone host. Instead we choose a restaurant to go out to and have some eats and drinks and lots of chat ‘bout. How can you not have a good time with that? 
Our first selection was: Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home by Kim Sunee.It was a good first book full of emotion, colorful imagery and amazing food. A feast for the senses. The book sparked a lively discussion that had us chatting well past our food, drinks and later our coffee. Or maybe we just were not in a rush to get home to our kids and husbands. Hmm…
We’re now busy thinking of what the next book will be. I can’t wait.Do any of you belong to a book club?I never thought I would, but with this combo of easygoing friends and a nice night out I’m having loads of fun.Best,
KwanaLucky Surprise
What’s Jack up to? Jack’s Chilling. Working on his coolness. As if he need work. Ha!
I’m a winner!And I’m really shocked about it since I entered the Save The Contemporary contest with my usual thought of, “well you’re not winning that.” I know, I’m an eternal optimist. I even went over to one of my favorite blogs Ramblings on Romance and saw that Kristie did not win and made a premature comment that I didn’t win either. So Embarrassing when I went to Smart Bitches Trashy Books a moment later to find that I did win a copy of the new Lisa Kleypas book Smooth Talking Stranger. Now all my usual blog readers know what a big Kleypas fan I am of both her contemporaries and her historicals. I can’t wait to get my hand on this next installment in the Travis family saga. Fun, Fun Fun!Here’s a synopsis:
Jack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy. He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure. But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul. Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms. It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby’s aunt. The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister. And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life. With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.Don’t you just love an unexpected surprise? I hope you get a good one today.
Best,
KwanaMy Obsession- Hello Lover again.
What’s Jack up to? Jack’s raring to go today. Ready to start the week full of his usual energy and optimism. I hope I can keep up?I think I have problem. As a matter of fact I know I have a problem. How can a woman be in a theater watching a film with the swoon worthy Clive Owen and be distracted by a handbag? And yet, I was.The DH and I went to see Duplicity on Friday night. It was a fun night out. I was excited to see Julia and Clive together on the screen. I had my doubts about seeing Clive in such a well lit role. Something I had shared earlier with the PIC. You see I like Clive in nice and dark roles but he worked it out for me.The movie had it points that had me saying huh? But happily that was worked out nicely too. But back to the main point of today’s post, my problem. This night should have been all about the film and Clive, but there I was very early on in the story totally smitten when confronted with an old love. The Marc Jacobs Blake Shoulder Bag. Julia’s character carries it in the film. I turn to my DH and whispered to him. “I love that bag. Marc Jacobs. 995.” He growls and I can almost feel his eyes roll. I swear if there was AA for bag obsessives he would have me there weekly. It’s a good thing I can’t afford these loves.
Watch the trailer and see it in motion.Check out the movie and see Clive in action!Best,KwanaChurch Chat
There is this little church that I past often in my weekly teen chauffeur duties and they have a sign out front that’s right by the main road. The cool thing is that since it’s a busy two way road they make good use of the sign and put different sayings on both the front and back of the sign.For the longest time I just drove past and never noticed and honesty I was driving to fast to read it anyway. But now I always slow down and give it a glance to see what sayings they have up for the week. This week I decided to pull over and a pic of a least one side of the sign. I really liked the saying and I hope you do too. It’s something I always try and remind my children of.
“To Belittle Is To Be Little”
Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
KwanaIt’s Got A Good Beat And You Can Dance To It
Happy Fab Friday People! Well, another week has flown by. What’s up with that? The calender says Spring. There are even crocus cropping up here and there but the thermometer here in New York clearly did not get the memo.Yesterday I was doing the mommy afternoon drive thing with the DD. Joy and fun with teens right? And when this happens you lose all control of your car radio especially with my girl. Cut to me cringing with the rapid fire speed of the station changing.
So this is what’s playing in my 15 year old’s ears and subsequently what’s playing in my ears too right about now. I can’t deal with some of her music, but some I really do like. And hey, she does go for a lot of my 80’s stuff and she gets Prince. The girl has some good taste. In honor of Fab Friday and Simply Seleta Enjoy some Fab teen/mom questionable bonding music.
The Ting Tings
Kid Cudi
Prince babyBest,
KwanaAnd the Award Goes to…
What’s Jack up to? Wild boy is having a fun time lately perched up high on the couch looking out the window barking at the world. He’s still not thrilled with me not taking him out as often or as long as he would like this past week but he’s been pulling a bit too much lately and the back can’t deal. I told you before Jack graduated from obedience training under ‘the no child left behind act’. But really, all is pretty good in Jack’s world.
Yesterday the nominations for RWA’s Rita and Golden Heart awards came out which is essentially the Oscars for romance books. Twitter was all a twitter and the message boards were on fire with congratulations all around. I’d like to say congrats too all the nominees.
I can feel my TBR (to be read) pile growing at this very moment.Here is the list of nominees for Contemporary Single Title Romance
No Good Girls by Jean Marie PiersonNot Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson
Out of Time by Samantha GravesSnowfall at Willow Lake by Susan WiggsSweet Talk by Susan MalleryTall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane GravesTwenty Wishes by Debbie MacomberYour Roots Are Showing by Elise ChidleyKwana sidebar: Lisa Kleypas’ Blue Eyed Devil so should have been on this list. It’s my blog and I’ll say what I want to.Now here is the list for Historical Romance
Duchess by Night by Eloisa James
In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine HeathPrivate Arrangements by Sherry ThomasSeduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa KleypasThe Edge of Impropriety by Pam RosenthalThe Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna BourneTo Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth HoytWhere the Heart Leads by Stephanie LaurensI don’t even know which way to turn here with so many of my faves on the list. Hello. Kleypas, Hoyt, James. Sigh. And the others I have not read yet but have heard very good things. So many books so little time.
These are just two categories to get the full list you can go to the RWA site here. I like to give a big shout out Jessica Anderson, Yay! Gena Showalter and Roxanne St. Claire for their well de
served nominations. What a day!
If you haven’t already, please check out some of these wonderful authors.
Best,
KwanaGet Thee On Purpose
pur⋅pose :1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.
4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.
5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.Last night while pulling tear sheets for inspiration on a story I’m working on I came across an article in an old issue of Essence Magazine called Finding The Path to Your Purpose written by Monique Greenwood.It got me thinking a question that I often ask myself. Am I following my purpose? You see I really want to be. Because I believe if I’m not then I’ll never be truly successful or happy. But how do you know if you’re “On Purpose” or how do you stay the course when things are not quite working out or the dream is just not materializing or life just keeps throwing marbles in your path?Well, how do you know? Don’t look to me for the answers I’m asking the questions here today.Ok I’ll give you a few suggestions from the article that I thought were pretty good and lastly one from me that may or may not be total junk. Hey, you can take it or leave it. I’m just me.
1. Put yourself in the picture: imagine yourself in the role you want to be. Sketch out a collage or storyboard. Visualization helps keep us on track
2. Forge full steam ahead even if only for 15 minutes: Don’t wait for Someday. Someday usually never comes. Right? Take it from the great procrastinator.3. Ring up a role model: Surround yourself with a few good people that are true cheerleaders. Or better yet a mentor. Have positive people in your corner. No downers allowed.4. Persist despite the fear: Fear is the great paralyzer and time sucker. Don’t let it stop you from realizing your dreams. Just don’t.5. The last tip from me is live with hope and faith and step out on it because it doesn’t matter how much you hope and dream it all takes work. Hard work to see it all come true. And if it is your true purpose it should come true, eventually, and you will be smiling big when it does. Inside and out.Best,
KwanaSucked In A Tweetisphere
What’s Jack up to? Jack’s doing the chill Jack thing right now. Meaning trouble later.
So I’ve been Twittering for a bit now. Still learning, but quickly going over to the dark side and fast. I have to say I’m having so much fun keeping up with my friends in just about real time while watching the same shows. And no, these are not really strangers, well, not mostly. See I know my P-I-C and my writer/fashion friends. Sure Anderson Cooper, Mc Hammer and Ellen D. don’t know me but it’s fun to watch them being the voyeur I am. So I’ll admit I’m stuck in the abyss and enjoying it… for now. Cue creepy music here please.Care to follow me? Well come on the water’s fine!
Best,
KwanaTime to Make The Donuts
What’s Jack up to? Jack is being Jack. He has been a sweetie to me, being so concerned while I’ve been out of it with my back ,but also taking advantage of my slow movements by getting into all sorts of mess like the trash, climbing on tables, going into the kids bags then sprinting under the beds where he knows I can’t go. Be warned, Jack. I will be better soon.As to that I’m determined to get up and out today. I feel a bit better. The back is still hurting some, but it’s not excruciating and I’ve got way too much to do to stay in bed any longer. No matter enticing that may be. Besides, the DH can no longer wait on me. Somebody’s got to make the donuts. And I’ve got my own job to do.
The DD’s dance recital this weekend was wonderful and she was great. Just the best in my not so humble opinion! But honestly, all the girls did a beautiful job. I’m always blown away by the professional show that they, along with their very talented teachers, put together every year. I’m also grateful for the extra performances that they put on for charity. The fact that they give back to the community is wonderful and makes me proud.
I hope you all have a good week ahead. One that is not too busy with a little down time scheduled in. As for me plan to walk lightly, drive slowly and write a lot.Best,
Kwana
