playdate book review

I had the opportunity to review a new book entitled PLAYDATE. This novel is by Thelma Adams. Here is a little synopsis of the book.

Thelma Adams, US Weekly’s film critic since 2000, has now written a funny, sexy and smart debut novel, PLAYDATE, about modern marriage and suburban family life. Already receiving fabulous early praise, PLAYDATE is a contemporary comedy of manners, which opens the door on a world that may exist just down the block or across the supermarket aisle.

Inside their privileged homes, the residents of Encinitas, a quiet San Diego suburb, are not quite what they seem. Lance is a former weatherman, who gave up his job so the family could relocate to Encinitas, where his businesswoman wife, Darlene, could open her newest “Darlene’s Diner” franchise. Happy to be a stay-at-home dad and manager of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop’s cookie distribution, he dotes on his daughter, Belle, practices yoga, and tries to persuade Darlene to have another child. However, Darlene is a workaholic and has little time or patience for the needs of her husband and daughter.

Just down the street are their neighbors, Alec and Wren. Alec, a womanizing businessman, is also the financial backer—and sometimes more—behind Darlene’s expanding restaurant empire. His wife, Wren, is consumed with yoga and tantric sex and is ready to lay down the mat for a quick session with Lance whenever possible. But Wren isn’t the only one in the house who’s preoccupied with the stay-at-home dad. Her babysitter, Julia, has her sights on him, too, and she’s far from discreet about it.

On the opening night of Darlene’s Diner, Belle’s birthday is celebrated as part of the evening’s festivities. However, looming Santa Ana winds threaten to turn brushfires in the direction of Encinitas and the party. As the fires push closer, each couple’s relationship is also in danger of going up in flames as their passions, secrets, and lies ignite the night and force them to examine what’s really important to them. PLAYDATE shows that relationships are complicated and the bonds between families, spouses, and children are never quite what they seem. What happens next door, beyond the hedges, in the romper room and executive office—it’s all as combustible as a quick brushfire on a windy day.

Sassy, witty, and totally engaging, PLAYDATE is an irresistible debut novel.

I give this novel, PLAYDATE a 3(GoodReads rating). While I found the book light hearted and easy to read, I just had a hard time relating to the families/characters. As I have watched the marrieges of a few good friends unravel(due to infidelity) over the last year or two, it just breaks my heart to read about it (even though this novle is fictional). I did however like how the author ended the novel. The choices that Lance made when it all came down to the important things in life, made me happy. I am a firm believer that when you chose to marry someone, it is for forever. While there are bumps in the road, you work at your marriage and don't turn to another for comfort. I also loved how involved Lance was in his daughters life. He was the caregiver, the stay at home Dad. I loved their relationship and wish that type of kindess and love between a Father and Daughter for every young girl.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an review this novel.
You can find the novel here.

Happy Reading!

Play Ball

Baseball season is here. The boys are thrilled.
However, they are not thrilled with the little break from the ball fields this week due to all of the Spring rain. All of the rain is making my little Indians a little stir crazy!

We say, bring on the sun!

All Stars

The 2011 Hot Shot season was so exciting! Tanner, Carter and Garrett all played this year. Three different sets of practices and three sets of games (each Saturday) = lots of basketball for our family. They all hustled and played really well. Carter and Garrett went on to play on the 2011 All Star teams.

Carter had an undefeated season and his All Star team took the title. Coach Carl(a teammates Grandpa) was awesome! You could tell he loved the game and the boys. Carter tore it up on the court. He was unstoppable and it was so much fun to watch him..

























Garrett's team also went undefeated. They lost the All Star game by two points...so close!


Basketball was fun and now we on to Baseball.

Girl's Weekend

Check out the view from our beach house! What a view!!!!

I can't let March pass by with out documenting our Scrapbook weekend at the beach. We rented a beach house(early March) at Dillon Beach this year. We go back and forth between Bodega and Dillon Beach. we encountered a few snafu's before our weekend even {officially} started and then we were good to go.

Our weekend was packed with lots of chick flicks, fun music, yummy food (we ate like queens. Healthy queens, minus the scones and buttermilk syrup), walks on Dillon beach helping Sheri collect seashells, scrapbooking, reading, massages,staying up late chatting with good friends, walks up and down the giant hill, making up new animals that were seen coming to and from the house :-), and some serious quality girlfriend time. I love and look forward to this yearly trip.







{The beach babes: Lisa, Raimi,Denise, Sheri, Izzie, Michelle & Debby}



{Lisa and Debby}

My favorite part of the weekend was catching up with this sweet friend. My friend, Michelle and I don't get to see each other as often as we would like. Life, kids, jobs and distance makes it hard for us to connect on a regular basis. What I do love is that when we see each other, we immediately pick right back up from where we left off, like no time has passed between us. That is a sign of a true friend...love you, Michelle. Are we Vegas bound :-)?




















I am already looking forward to next years trip :-).

Grandpa

I can't let this day pass without mention of my sweet Grandpa Shore. Today is the one year mark since his passing. Life has not been the same. I have been tearing up, off and on, all day. While I have wonderful memories of him, I still miss him terribly. His passing has just reaffirmed why I love taking photos. I have loved flipping through our family albums today and being reminded of our time spent with Grandpa. Each photo took me back to the place, time and memory of each photo. I love that!

My cousins have been posting their thoughts on Facebook today and these were two of my favorite quotes.

‎"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in the Heavens where the love
of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy." ~unknown

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." ~Unknown

We love and miss you, Grandpa!

lucky

this is as close as I got to doing anything for St Patrick's Day this year. It just isn't a holiday I am ever in the mood to celebrate. Heck, I didn't even wear green today...and I didn't get pinched.

This was today's Kit of the Week release at Green Tangerines. It is very simple. I really wanted to focus on the photos and the journaling. I used the new yummy Crate Paper line. The title reads: "Lucky to have you by my side". It is exactly how I feel about John. I am so thankful to be able to share this crazy ride called life, with him by my side. I used random pictures from the last 16 years(wedding, heading off to church one Sunday, trip to Hawaii for our first anniversary, waiting for Tanner to arrive, silly Davis family photos). Each photo holds favorite memories, very vivid recollections of how I felt the moment each photo was taken. Again, so very lucky to have him in my life, by my side.

As you have celebrated St. Patrick's Day this year, what has made you feel Lucky?

and...i love him so

old photos + the new March GTKC goodies = love. I have been on a 2007 scrapbooking kick. I opened the photo 2007 boxes(I have two of them)and was baffled as to why there were so many photos that hadn't been scrapbooked. Then it dawned on me, I had had a new baby in May of 2007 and three other children to take care of. I am pretty sure that is the reason that I didn't do much scrapbooking in 2007. While I didn't get alot done, I am thankful that I did take a million photos to catch glimpses of this little cutie pa-tootie. They grow up entirely too fast *sigh*.

leaving the single digits behind!

Happy 10th Birthday, Carter!
Wishing you all the best as you leave the single digits behind.
You are a delightful young man! You are so kind,thoughtful,funny,talented and a very bright spot in our lives. Your jokes always make us giggle!
We love you so much!




















{photo by our talented friend, Mer}

walking

The older boys walk to school each Wednesday. They are part of the Walk to School Club. Brody and I like to join them when we can. It is quite the sight, about 95% of the student body walks/rides their bikes to school. On one of the days that we walked, Brody and I were on our way home when Brody said, "My shoes are so tired". It was so cute and so funny! I had tried to give him a Piggy Back ride home but was having a hard time after attending a Fit Club class that was all about our legs that day. Needless to say, we made it home and rested our "shoes". I love that little boy.