Man and butterfly

This is such a heart warming story about a man who has a 37 day encounter with a butterfly.
After all the negative news, it is good to read something so precious.
Share it with your children!
Karin

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House Bunny (movie) (no spoilers)

I saw this movie today, and it was surprisingly funny. I hadn’t particularly wanted to go, but I was glad I did.
The entire audience laughed a lot. There were only a few really dumb things, and one character I could have written out, but the main character is so delightful and watchable and innocently [...]

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The Frog Prince by Jane Porter

The Frog Prince is a modern day fairy tale. Because I liked Flirting with Forty so well, I had high expectations for this one.

In a mere 371 pages Holly goes from being a devastated, whiny, soon-to-be divorcee to a sense of personal empowerment. Shortly after Holly marries, she finds her husband [...]

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Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Fearless Fourteen continues the comic saga of Stephanie Plum and her cohorts in bond enforcement. Along the way there are the requisite crimes to solve to the tune of $9 million missing from a heist. Then add to the mix being stalked by the perpetrators who are dying one by one. [...]

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Hey Good Looking by Fern Michaels

I enjoyed this book by Fern Michaels. It is only the second one I’ve read by her.
Central to the story are three sisters ranging in age upwards from 69. They were so funny to me, especially when they instigate a ‘kidnapping’ of sorts, which is really a rescue. I suppose what I [...]

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Jane Porter speaking about life

I’m happy to share this online interview with Jane Porter. She was gracious to spend some time with us. I think you’ll agree that she is a voice we’d like to hear more of.
Jane, I so much enjoyed your book Flirting with 40, and I’m really looking forward to it being [...]

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Aromaleigh Minerals

As I wrote in my previous post, Aromaleigh has a wide variety of colors to choose from. If I were starting to look into minerals, I think I would look only here. I don’t think you could go wrong. Plus they have a forum, a gallery of photos (don’t let any of [...]

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Mineral Makeup

Do you like to wear mineral makeup? For the most part, I do not wear mineral foundation, I prefer a liquid. I don’t find the liquid mineral foundations to be as good in their color range, or any better, than a normal liquid foundation.
I started with Bare Essentials. They don’t have [...]

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Real life women

I came across this interesting woman, Ruth Hamilton, yesterday, and now I can’t remember where. Perhaps you’ve looked at my various links and seen the link to the oldest blogger — well Ruth was even older — 109, imagine! And embracing new technology!
If you want to see and listen to a woman, born [...]

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Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter

This book is a coming of age book for the forty- or fifty- or sixty- year olds. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was it entertaining, it was affirming and real — or as real as it could be if you were in these circumstances.
Jackie Laurens is the divorced mother of two young [...]

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Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

Deborah Rodriguez has written a must-read book for those interested in other cultures and the fate of women world-wide. She has changed the names and stories, but the stories are true.
I’ve wanted to read this book ever since I heard of it, but never got around to having the time to do [...]

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Apres Vous (film)

Apres Vous is a romantic comedy that takes place in Paris. The DVD is subtitled in English, at least here in America.
In a way, it is similar to Ratatoille, only not animated. A lot of the action centers around an up-scale restaurant in Paris. Things get complicated when Antoine (Daniel Auteuil) (he [...]

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How do I love thee, let me count the ways — 25 + fragrances to love

When I was asked to be part of the ones who mentioned their 25 all-time favorites today, I was pleased to be a part of it! While bread is the staff of life, perfume is the essence of life. What would bread be, without the scent wafting from the oven or as we [...]

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Wolves in Chic Clothing (book)

This book is a delicious romp, with some serious issues handled through the story and the relationships, but in ways that you care about the characters and don’t look at them with a jaundiced eye. Most of us have known someone who might act this way, given half a chance. And most of [...]

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Invisible Girl, by Tess Hudson

Because I enjoyed Tess Hudson’s Double Down so well, I wanted to read this one. If you remember, Double Down was a romance about a young woman overcoming her addiction to gambling. There were some darker images in it involving uncovering a mystery about drugging a football player (her new romance) in order [...]

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On being a caterpillar

I saw this mentioned at another list this morning and thought others might enjoy it too. (It mentions God in the message and Jesus is mentioned in the website title.)
It deals creatively with the concept of fear (and even flying). I’m reading a fiction book now where the woman has a phobia of [...]

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Inspiration on dreams for your life (movie)

Here’s a short 3 minute inspirational movie on the importance of having dreams for your life.
I enjoyed it. I hope you do too!
Karin

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Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong

This is the first book I’ve read by Qiu Xiaolong, though he’s written a number of other books. I chose to read this book because the cover jumped out at me from the library — a beautiful Chinese woman, drawn from just above the mouth, rising over a city (Shanghai) — and because of [...]

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Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong

This is the first book I’ve read by Qiu Xiaolong, though he’s written a number of other books. I chose to read this book because the cover jumped out at me from the library — a beautiful Chinese woman, drawn from just above the mouth, rising over a city (Shanghai) — and because of [...]

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Sous le Vent by Guerlain

I have been remiss in reviewing this scent. I’ve had it now for a couple of weeks because a generous POL’er shared some with me. I have no excuse not to have reviewed it sooner, or expressed my thanks in this way, but it is summer and life is in the way.
I probably [...]

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Sensuous by Estee Lauder

Over the past few weeks I’ve sampled small bits of Sensuous because one of the local store’s SAs was sharing her own small purse size with customers. I liked it well enough to try a larger spritz when the full size bottle came in.
I’ve had a love/hate affair with Lauder fragrances through [...]

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Amy’s wedding toast

This is so cute. Thanks to another blogger for sharing it so I could see it.
Karin
Best Wedding Toast Ever!!!! (Amy’s Song) - Funny video clips are a click away

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Scent impressions on a hot day The Different Company Part 3

Between L’artisan and Serge Lutens were testers from The Different Company. Since I love Bois d’Iris, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to at least try one of them.
Bois d’Iris notes
iris (iris pallida aka “the Fastuous” or iris florentina), vetiver, bergamot, cedar wood, narcissus, geranium, musk
I decided to sample Un Parfum [...]

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Scent impressions on a hot day Serge Lutens Part 2

Moving on to Serge Lutens from L’artisan:
Ahhhh… Oh my. This is the first time I’ve seen so many Lutens fragrances in one place since I was in Paris. On that trip I was overwhelmed by the choices, didn’t really know the offerings, and felt confused enough not to make a choice. [...]

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Scent impressions on a hot day L’Artisan Part 1

This week when I headed to a major city a few hours away, I thought I’d check out the perfumes at Neiman Marcus, because I knew they had L’Artisan and also Serge Lutens. The last time I was in a NM closer to home, they had neither.
I planned to treat myself, but ended up [...]

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Speaking of libraries

Generally speaking, I don’t buy books, as I absolutely have no place to put even one more — which doesn’t stop me on occasion.
I tend to go to the library and have them order a book for me, even if it is outside our library system.
When we first moved here, the area around us was [...]

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Double Down by Tess Hudson

This book jumped out at me from the library shelf, and because it sounded more interesting than some, I thought I’d give it a try.
I’ve never seen this subject matter in a novel — compulsive gambling — which doesn’t mean there aren’t some books that deal with it. Hudson does such a good job [...]

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How do you read a book?

Do you read a book from the first page to the last?
Do you read the ending first?
Do you skip around and reread sections when you come to them again?
Do you read books more than once? (College Girl does.) (It is rare for me to.)
Do you read all types of books or only [...]

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Avon Tahitian Holiday

If you like any of the beachy smelling perfumes, such as Estee Lauder’s or Tom Ford’s, then check out Avon’s Tahitian Holiday for a fraction of the cost — while it is being introduced it is only $9.99, later it will be $15, still a bargain.
This scent smells a whole lot richer than [...]

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The Winner Of Norske Talenter - Erlend Bratland - Lost

I’d like to hear more from him! 17 yrs old!

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Get Smart

If you want to have an enjoyable couple of hours with laughs galore, head on over to your nearest theater and take in this movie. I went with my girls today, college age, 12 and 10, and we all loved it. Interestingly enough our local paper gave it one *. He must [...]

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How about some country! Ashton Shepherd


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Comparing perfumes — Vol de Nuit Evasion with Attrape-Coeur/Guet-Apens

I promised yesterday that I would compare these two.
I came across a site where you can compare fragrances. If you like one, what else might you like (or vice versa.) You can see it here.
When I went there, while waiting for my sample of VdNE to arrive, I was surprised to find they [...]

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Who is the keeper of your memories?

Reading Kinsella’s book has got me thinking.
Who is the keeper of my memories? Is there any one person who would know enough about my life to help me put it back together again?
I tend to be a reticent person, picking and choosing what and when to share, while at the same time [...]

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The girl effect


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Remember me? by Sophie Kinsella

This was a really interesting book. Imagine if you wake up in the hospital after a car accident and your earliest memory is three years before when you were out with your friends for the evening. You slipped and fell getting into a taxi. In the hospital, you think this is what [...]

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Guerlain Vol de Nuit Evasion

I must have been sleeping whenever this fragrance was discussed, because I only happened upon mention of it the other day when I was surfing for decants and samples. It seems to be one that is either liked or not — there’s no happy medium.
And it’s important to know that there is nothing remotely [...]

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Juno, some spoilers, maybe

Juno was recommended to me by a friend. I was told I’d like it, but I had my doubts.
First, the subject of adoption, birth mothers, birth fathers, birth family, and desire for a child are close to my heart. I have two bio children and two children adopted from China. [...]

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Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart

I must be in the mood for reading.
This is the first book, but not the last, that I’ve read by Mariah Stewart. She was recommended to me while I was out and about the other day, when I struck up a conversation about books with someone I’d never met before. As [...]

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Audrey Tautou in Priceless (Hors de Prix)

Well, this is a movie I’ll definitely want to go see. Billed as the Breakfast at Tiffany’s for our times, I’m ready.
Not to mention that she reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, and I liked her in Amélie and in The Da Vinci Code.

How about you?
Karin

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Sex and the City (no spoiler)

College Girl and I went to see this last night. The plot of the movie surprised me, but it shouldn’t have. And I hadn’t heard the plot anywhere else.
In one sense, it was like seeing several episodes of the show at once. It was a fun movie, with a constant parade of [...]

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Finding Joy

Here’s a 3 minute inspirational movie about finding joy, filled with a lot of quotations.
I enjoyed it!
Karin

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Reckless Abandon, by Stuart Woods

Stuart Woods has written a lot of books, nearly all of them good. They are peppered with interesting characters, a bit of humor, some cynicism, some romance, some intrigue. And some of them cross characters from one of his series into another.
Reckless Abandon has some of my favorite of his characters: Stone [...]

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What are you currently reading?

What books are scattered through your house waiting for you to get to them? And what book(s) are you currently reading?
Do you like a particular genre? I read across the board, depending on what strikes me when I get to the library. I like mysteries, but not ones that are graphically evil. [...]

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People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Based on a true story, but fleshed out with fictional characters, this book is complex and intriguing. The protagonist is Australian, as is the author. I liked the Australian tidbits along the way.
That the Sarajevo Haggadah, an early illuminated Jewish religious volume, survived is a testament to people of all faiths who [...]

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Subha Patel International Flavors & Fragrances

Whether you like artificial means of producing scent or whether you prefer natural ingredients or a combination of both, this article gives a little insight into the director of one of the top producers in the world of artificial scents and flavors.
The search for promising scents is a life-long one, if you love fragrance. [...]

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New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

Twilight is the second book in Stephanie Meyer’s saga about Edward, Bella and Jacob. One thing I like about finding this series when the last book is about to be published, is that I get to read the story quicker. And anyone who knows me, knows I like to read the ending first [...]

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A little story

I do not know the source for this story. But I like the moral.
Karin
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse.
But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the [...]

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Let me know if you would like to review any book you’ve read

Since I love to read, and I expect my readers do also, email me any thoughts you have on books you read and I will include them.
Thanks!
Karin

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The Land of Mango Sunsets (book)

Today we have a guest writer reviewing for us. I’ve not read this book, but it will definitely go on my to-read list. If you have read the book, or any by this author, how do you rate them?
Karin

In The Land of Mango Sunsets, author Dorothea Benton Frank illustrates that coming of age [...]

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