Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Book Club Party with Ally Condie Spotlighing Atlantia


Several years ago my bookclub had the lovely Ally Condie as a guest author to highlight her book Freshman For President (it was a fun one I got to help plan). Since then we've been adoring fans of all her books and had her as a guest for her series Matched.  Last week she kindly invited us to a party to thank us for being so fun. We couldn't not turn it into another great party, this time for Atlantia. 


Atlantia by Ally Condie

Atlantia is a stand alone young adult novel about a young siren who has chosen to not reveal her true identity to her underwater community. She's always wanted to go to the above but without explanation she's left below with no more family. With nothing to lose she starts formulating a plan to finally get what she's always wanted, to see the sky.

We had a great discussion on the book and got to ask questions and hear answers straight from the Ally. I even asked one, but you'll have to ask me since it's kind of a spoiler if you haven't read the book.

Here's a few pictures from our party:

My friend Brook and Ally did fantastic with the decorations and goodies.
(Notice the poster? Big and little details everywhere.)

Representing both the Atlantia underwater and the above.

We each brought a favorite read from last year and wrapped them all in beautiful brown packaging. We then each got one and got to open our surprise book while we listened to each other tell why we chose that one to share.

Aren't they pretty?

The group! As always we go all out.
(Can you spot the blue bats flying above us??)


These decorations! The delicious goodies! Seriously Brook & Ally did a fabulous job.



The beautiful cake by Meagan.

The details!

Drink stirrers by gnomesweetgnome etsy shop.


Ally had a fun gift for each of us. A jewel and a shell (pictured below). 
Book coordinating goodies, cool!


Some members of our bookclub love to give gifts. Tonights was a calendar of gorgeous ocean pictures.


Jenni, Jamie, Ally, me.




Monday, February 2, 2015

Marriage Monday: Happy Couples Do This Work Gladly


"To be a good long-term lover, there's no free lunch, and there's no free love. Love that lasts takes work. Happy couples do this work gladly, reaping the benefits in body and mind."
-Mona D. Fishbane, PhD


I love how she starts out this article, "Falling in love is easy, and delicious." For those of us who've been in a loving relationship can't you relate to that? This article discusses what we can do and what happens when we're more settled in a relationship to get those fabulous feelings to stick around. She also discusses proactive loving vs passing loving. Check it out.





Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.




Monday, January 26, 2015

Marriage Monday: Things Happy Couples Do



Dr. Jim Walkup, LMFT discussed seven things that happy couples are often found doing.  Click on over to read the full article here. (Or copy/past the link found at the bottom.)



Spend time together. 
It's crazy how fast this one can slip away. Our time is pulled in a bunch of different directions and sometimes if we don't make it a priority to focus, to spend one on one time together our interest and devotion can fall away. It's an easy one though!! Schedule it in. Take off together. Carve out some time. However you can.

Know your partners love language.
It's common we love the way we want to be loved and those signals are missed because our partner doesn't see or understand it the same way. Invest a few minutes and figure out each others love languages.

Committ to 20 second hugs, twice a day.
Physical touch can do wonders for those endorphin's!

And I love his parting point. Focus on what you want to see more of. Compliment instead of criticize. Put your efforts into positive changes instead of digging deeper and cementing the negative.


Click the link to read the rest of this great article!
You can find his full article by Dr. Jim Walkup on the Huffington Post here. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yourtango/7-normal-things-happy-cou_b_6290514.html?ir=Women&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000046




Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.





Monday, January 19, 2015

Marriage Monday: Potent Power for Good


"Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered...pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good, and the foundation of a successful marriage." 
-Richard G. Scott


Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.




Monday, January 12, 2015

Marriage Monday: Nothing Complicated & Wedding Anniversary



"There's nothing complicated about reviving or enhancing your fondness and admiration. Even positive feelings that have long been buried can be exhumed simply by thinking and talking about them. You can do this by meditating a bit on your partner and what makes you cherish him or her. When you acknowledge and openly discuss positive aspects of your partner and your marriage, your bond is strengthened. This makes it much easier to address the problem areas in your marriage and make some positive changes."
-The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman, Ph.D


Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.



My hubby and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on Saturday. 

January 10, 2002






Friday, January 9, 2015

2014 Reading Review



I love doing year in reviews because I really do go over and over my books several times a year. Whenever anyone asks for a book recommendation I can't sit by. I have to throw a suggestion, or 5 into the ring. Plus I really love comparing my reading year by year. So while I realize this is mostly for my own benefit, I hope you enjoy it too.


Cranberryfries 2014 Reading Stats 

Total Novels Read: 75
Pages:  22604
Young Adult: 16
Children's/Middle-grade fiction: 8
Non fiction: 3
Adult fiction: 13 
Romance: 14
Historical Fiction: 8
General Fiction: 13
Mystery: 3
Fantasy: 9
# of those that were audio: 35
# of those that were rereads: 3 
Longest: When I Found You
Shortest: 12 Angry Men
Most out of my element: Flash Boys, Water for Elephants or Life in Motion
I'd most recommend to anyone: Princess Bride
I'd most recommend to adults: Attachments or The Rosie Project (some) or Stephanie Perkins series (Anna, Lola, Isla)
I'd most recommend to teens: Unspoken
I'd most recommend to kids: Encyclopedia Brown, Pet Wars or The Inventors Secret
Funniest: ?
Hardest to finish: Jungle Book or Life in Motion
Best Romance:  Maybe Someday
Favorite Author for me this year: Rainbow Rowell or Colleen Hoover
Most people would enjoy:  The Winners Curse
Most read author this year: Sarah M Eden


My Top 10 (in no order) of 2014:
  • Maybe Someday 
  • The Rosie Project 
  • Anne of Green Gables
  • Since You've Been Gone
  • Attachments
  • Isla and the Happily Ever After
  • Me Before You
  • Flash Boys
  • Hold Me Tight
  • The Rent Collector









You can see my past years here: Yearly Book Goals or by year 201020112012, 2013




Friend me on Goodreads Debbie Cranberryfries



Monday, January 5, 2015

Marriage Monday: Love Demands Action


Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process."
-Marvin J. Ashton


Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.