recent creative action

just thought i'd share some of the stuff i've been working on of late. some cards, some of the 52Q weekly tags, a couple of the ABC's of Me cards, and a layout for a Tally Challenge. whew! thanks for stopping by, hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend!

austen + zombies = lighthearted fun beach read

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Cute, clever idea, and fun novelty for the first few chapters, yet in my opinion the zombie bits could have been better. The novelty wore off pretty quick and then it became a bit of a "reader's digest condensed" version of the P&P story with little character development, and not near enough actual zombie mayhem!



Still, this is a quick and entertaining read for folks who don't take themselves, or their Jane Austen, too seriously...let's not forget that Ms. Austen herself had some badazz comedic skillz and appreciation of the bizarre. Also, the illustrations alone are worth the purchase! The very thought of Lizzy kicking some serious zombie butt on her walk to Netherfield had me giggling out loud, and the illustration of that scene was priceless.

goodreads.com review

Sheer Abandon: A Novel by Penny Vincenzi

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
I gave this 2 stars not because it had 600+ pages (I love diving into epic stories); not because the characters gave me no real reason to identify with them in any way (shallow, under-developed wimpy female characters - the only one with any balls being teenage Kate); nor because the plot was handed to me on a platter in the first chapter (should have quit while I was ahead)...



I generally like Penny Vincenzi's novels as beach or vacation reads, or just fun escapes once in a while, but this was just so lame...SO flippin' lame. Maybe it's because I work with REAL adoption/foster care every day, maybe it's because I have strong female friends and relatives who don't get pushed around by their partners, or maybe it's just that I don't like knowing how the entire story will pan out by page 5. Whatever the reason, this one will be returned with no regret to the library shelves asap. I am so pleased that I didn't actually buy it!


View all my reviews.

happy mother's day, moms!

these two women are both loving, nurturing, generous, inspiring, and fun. both grew up in large sibling sets. they both grew up in the midwest. both of these ladies want to help people, to make a difference in the lives of others. both are Christians and are devoted to their faith. they both have raised children to be responsible adults. both have experienced success, and both have dealt with loss. neither are particularly inclined to crafts. both love to read and learn. they are each uniquely strong. they each stand firmly for what they believe is right. yet they are not the same.

one works overtime, one is enjoying retirement after a dedicated career. one makes her home the most comfortable place in the world. the other comfortably makes the world her home. one is Republican, the other leans to the left. one changed the family's home decor with the seasons, the other kept precious family photos in their place for generations. one's a shopaholic who finds the best deals on the planet, the other prefers to stay away from the malls.

these two women are empowered, independent, and amazing. and best of all, they both hold a place in my heart reserved for "mom."

i love you both, and wish you buckets full of happiness today, and always! thanks for everything you do for me and kirk, and for being such role models for all.

a few test shots...

yep. i'm going to have some fun with this.

introducing...

my new and much upgraded camera...the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28!

he arrived today via FedEx...and i charged the battery and took it for a test spin this evening. you can see those photos by clicking HERE. there will be nicer shots on the blog later, but I couldn't wait to make the introduction:

isn't he cute?

now, i have NEVER been one to anthropomorphize my belongings. i have friends who do this...they name their cars, their computers, their christmas trees...but i've never been one of those.

i'm not a materialistic girl. i know that our possessions are not what make us happy, or whole, or better than anybody else. i don't get jealous of the items my friends and neighbors own.

however...

this little guy has already made quite an impression on me. this little fellow packs quite a punch for the price! he's light but doesn't feel cheap, he's got a great big eye that can see things far, far away...he feels great in my little hand, i can control all the right bits i need, but when i want to be lazy he'll do everything for me. he brings details into sharp focus, he sounds cool, and he takes some badasz photos & video right out of the box. *sigh*

i hate to say this, but...

i think i'm in love...

and, i think i'll call him....zed, as in "f zed 28." like the guy in the review video says it, down below.

okay, okay, i might be just kidding about the zed part. i mean, let's not get carried away here. i may have a new crush on my fz28, but i'm still not one of those people.

not that there's anything wrong with that.