Ra Ra Raleigh

Last weekend we took a sweet weekend trip to our state capital. 

Darren and Connor were planning to go to a collectors card convention, 

so Carlee and I decided to join along.

I'm so glad we did because it was such a nice weekend.

I have not visited Raleigh since 6th grade! 

Carlee and I did NOT want to go to the convention (you seen one baseball card, you've seen them all). 

Instead we decided to go to the Crabtree Mall!

Within the first few minutes we saw the Holy Grail......

What is it about Lululemon and little girls?!?

It's the equivalent to Anne of Green Gables puffed sleeves except triple the price tag!! 

Between the discount rack, a bit of Christmas money, and aka. mom, me helping...

we found ONE pair of capri pants that fit like normal pants (that didn't require we sale our house).

To complete our posh outing, we found a Starbucks (I had a Christmas gift card). We just walked strutted around like a couple of Sassy Women!

What a hoot!! 

(and one of us wearing a pair of those LuLu pants 🤣)

We were just contemplating the Food Court and window shopping Coach (like Sassy Women), when the boys called us back.

Darren had the good idea to visit the NC Museum of Life and Science.  Connor said it was featured on CNN, of course we had to go see it.

We parked on Main Street and totally got lost trying to find it.  We did find the North Carolina State Capital!  

No one really cared but I was excited because it was the first time I had ever saw the state capital (after 32 years of being a North Carolinian).  

The museum was neat

 and best of all- admission was free.

Look how tall Con Con is!?! About to pass his dad. 

We adore our growing kids so much. 

I'm so proud of them.  

Connor tried to buy Carlee a gift shirt and rock candy with his own money, but the line was so long (and we had already made a lulu stop).

I did get Connor this shirt because we went through the James Cameron exhibit together. 

#titaniccrew

It cost extra to see James Cameron Challenging the Deep exhibit, but I wanted to see it.

I took Connor because we are such movie buffs.

Honestly, it was a bit over priced but it was interesting. 

There were so many drawings from the time James Cameron was a little boy up to his movie making process.

You may not know that James Cameron is the famous director of -

Terminator

Titantic

Avatar

Deep Sea Challenge 

etc.

There were a lot of artifacts from his movies.  You can tell James Cameron is a methodical genius.

He was such a hands on/ creative kid.  

He may have been in a lot of trouble this day and age the way little boys are limited in how much they can move and/ or get off topic.

It's kind of sad.

Jack's Drawings from the Titanic 

Jack & Rose costumes in the movie The Titanic.  

Movie Script 

Jack's Art Apron

Deep Sea Dive

We also watched the 2D Challenging the Deep 

 I thought it was very interesting but Connor was about to fall asleep on this one.

(Darren had to miss it because he had the "Deep Challenge" to find our missing car.)

Actual replica of the Titanic used in the movie

James Cameron made a record breaking solo dive 35, 787 feet below the surface in this submersible vessel.  

He was in this cramped space for 8 hours!! 

Have you ever met a scientist who wears Lululemon pants!?! 

That night we had the BEST meal at local sports bar.  

There was a hockey game, so the fans were going wild.  

I loved the atmosphere.

By the time we made it to the room, we had walked well over 12, 000 steps. 

I tried my very best to swim but my body finally said- no more, it's time for bed. 

Luckily DaddyO took over.

What a fun weekend! 

I love these Goobers.

                                                 

When you get the chance, be sure to go to Ra Ra Raleigh!! 

 

November/ December Reads

Reads

I’ve had a complete and full year of reading.  

I barley made my Goodreads Goal but I did it!   

 Here are MY November/ December reads.

Are You There God? Its Me Margaret

By Judy Blume

I read this book when I was in 6th grade and it was so impactful.  Who can forget, ‘We Must Increase Our Bust?’ Exercises!?  

Due to the school issues Carlee is already dealing with, I decided to read this one with her during our nightly time.   

Although this book has been revised multiple times (its been 50 years since publication), I think some of the content was still a little above her head.  I did have to explain what the word “bust” meant.  I think it’s really hard for a little southern girl who grew up in church to understand how Margaret struggled with not having a religion.  

One thing EVERY girl can relate to is wanting to be a part of the Pre Teen Sensations (PTEs).  There are so many great topics of discussion in this book.   I remember thinking I was really reading something so faux pas as a kid.  I was happy to have such open discussions on the talking points ie. changing bodies, girls who grow at different rates, girls who lie to make themselves seem older, boys/ crushes, being treated like dirt to keep a friend, being yourself, school issues, and talking to God.  

All topics that are universal today.  

It’s good stuff!

4 STARS

Ps.  I think this book is being remade into a 2023 MOVIE!  I can’t wait. 

American Dirt 

by Jeanine Cummins

I found this one on Libby app (both audio and book).  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  First, let’s just say this popular book hit some major controversy when it was discovered the author is a white woman who had never been an immigrant or even lived in Mexico.  She certainly took some liberties I would never be comfortable taking (if I were as talented) when writing about the Mexican culture. 

While I understand the controversy surrounding the author, I can't take away the fact this was a well written and powerful story. 

This book opens with a literal bang when Lydia Quixano’s entire family is gunned down by the drug cartel after her husband writes a “tell all” about the leader Javier Fuentes.  Javier is the leader of Los Jardineros- the most powerful cartel in the area.  To make things complicated, Javier had been a close personal friend to Lydia for years (not knowing he was cartel)!!  From that point, each chapter is filled with tension, trauma, and stress.  

Lydia and her son Luca are on the run trying to reach the United States illegally with the cartel at their heels.  While this story has been criticized for racial stereotypes, I actually thought the author showcased some realistic stories with the addition of what I call The Mexican Angels- the rare angel that would help in desperate need.  Prayer played a significant role.   

At one point Luca and Lydia bond with two young teen girls, Soledad and Rebeca.  I fell in love with these girls.  For the first time in my life I realized that in some places being “beautiful” is a true curse.  I wanted to rescue and adopt them from the book. 

 This story truly makes you question, 'what would I do in that situation?' 

One may have strong ideals about immigration but none of that would matter the second your own child was in danger. What would you do if you had no money, no one to turn, no one to trust?  Your morals would fly out the window.

“American Dirt” was a very emotional ride for me and a reminder of how good I have it.

5 STARS

Ps. I read the book and listened to audio in between.  Yareli Arizmendi did an amazing job narrating the book (she also helped me pronounce all the Spanish words properly). 

The Street Where She Lives 

by Jill Shavis

I love Jill Shavis and the picturesque towns that hold her settings, 

Butttttt

this one was not my favorite.  

Per Amazon Description:

“Recovering from a hit-and-run accident, cartoonist Rachel Wellers must deal with the return of photojournalist Ben Asher, the man she left thirteen years earlier, when her daughter asks for his help, but they soon discover that his mere presence has placed all of their lives in great danger.”

I read this one after “American Dirt” so I don’t think I was in the mood for a sweet romance.  A couple of things threw me off 

1. The dad was not involved in his daughter’s life so much. 2. 70% of the novel our heroine had a cast on two legs and an arm and the hero couldn’t quit lusting after her.  

Isn’t it funny how a few details throw you off from the story??

This one was ok.  I loved the redesigned fire house home, and I loved the professions of the main characters.   The “mystery” was wrapped up pretty quickly. 

3 STARS

Indigo Ridge 

by Devney Perry

I’ve been kind of in a reading rut.  I start stories and stop them because they don’t hold my interest.   I heard good things about Devney Perry.  While I really enjoyed “Indigo Ridge”, “Garnett Flats” was ehhhhh.  

“Indigo Ridge" takes place in Quincy, Montana.  Winslow Covington has come home to take her place as chief of police.  A lot of the town’s people think she unfairly got the job and she has to really prove herself.  Things heat up when she runs into town leader- Griffin Eden (The Eden Fam are The Kennedys of Quincy).  

I liked the chemistry between the characters and the "killer on the loose" mystery.  

Maybe I need to switch to some thrillers.  

4 STARS

Garnett Flats 

by Deveney Perry

I had to force myself to finish.  

I LOVE couples with a past so I thought this one would be great.  

Talia Eden and Foster Madden were in LOVE before he left her for her best friend. 

Foster, a professional boxer, is back to win the fight of his life and to rekindle things with Talia.

I was a little disappointed with how fast Talia forgave Foster, and the lack of communication between the two who were in LOVEEEEE.

2 STARS

I’m hoping 2023 will get me out of my reading rut. 
Cheers to some great reading in the months ahead!