Mind Candy Review: Chasing Harry Winston - Spring Book Swapaway!

I realize that the days of "spring break" is gone for most of you (and me, too - waaaaaah), and that time is a commodity, but don't you just love to be able to vege out on the couch/lawn chair/beach chair/blanket with a good read every now and again?

I started thinking about the fact that summer will be upon us soon, which also means that a ton of new "chick lit" books will be released soon, too! Yeah!!! I reflected back on my fav read from last year - Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (the author of The Devil Wears Prada). Have you read it? If not, you should!

I really enjoyed this book (as did several of my friends who borrowed it) for a number of reasons. One - I like a good book about capable women. Two - I enjoy reading something fun, that makes me giggle, doesn't necessarily make me think too hard, and let's me escape for a while...CHW fits this bill. Three - there are three main characters facing different choices and experiencing different adventures, foibles, happiness, and sadness. Four - which means there are THREE different love stories! Five - all three characters are flawed (I can relate!), but you somehow want to see them succeed!

So, in the spirit of sharing and wanting all of YOU to have the opportunity to enjoy this book, I am proposing a GIVEAWAY of sorts...or maybe we'll call it a Spring Book Swapaway! Comment below by next Thursday, April 9, and tell me YOUR favorite spring or summer read and I'll randomly select one person to receive Chasing Harry Winston! All I ask is that you become a follower over there on the right hand side! And, if you want to swap your favorite book, I'd love that, too!

What do you think? Wanna swap?

PS - ring #2 on the book cover makes me SALIVATE!!! Oh who am I kidding, I SUPPOSE I'd take any of them...

Rich Woman Review

I had this idea to start a book club some time ago (November-ish, maybe?!) because I'd heard of the book Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki (wife of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad author) and thought it would be great to discuss with a group of women. Well, my invited group of ELEVEN ended up being a group of THREE, because some of the gals who read it, realized that finances were boring. Hmmmm...slightly concerning, but that's a discussion for another time.

One of the women was a no show last night, so it ended up being just Lori and I (which really, was okay seeing as how my dinner was silly and my house wasn't really clean). Because Lori is a good friend, and is married to a good friend, we were really able to have an open and interesting conversation about money, wealth, and how women especially have a hard time making decisions about what we really want.

Kim Kiyosaki writes this book like a conversation amongst friends. At first, I really liked that part about the book, but then it got a little hokey...I think Lori agreed somewhat. It does really simplify money issues, though. She also talks about how most women avoid ever making financial decisions because someday they'll have a husband who will do it for them and how damaging that can be in terms of financial literacy as many women face living alone at somepoint in their lives, or some sort of catastrophe which requires their inside knowledge of their own finances.

Ultimately, the point of the book is not to sit on money, but to make YOUR money work for YOU. Whether you invest money in stocks, or in rental property, or in some other format, an asset is not an asset unless it is bringing some sort of return each month. It's shocking to think of it this way. Now Kiyosaki doesn't recommend going out and buying an apartment complex right away, but rather starting small! So, Lori and I decided to look at tax lien certificates in order to bring in a small return. It's all about learning and we're going to continue to research and apply some of the principles we learned in this book!

Australia review

Clare and I saw Australia on Saturday night and I have to say...it was AMAZING! I was kinda dragging my feet to see it, and really only went because I felt like I was being sucked into my couch on Saturday afternoon. I was SO pleasantly surprised by this film.

It was cinematically gorgeous. There were sweeping views, wide shots of the outback, really authentic sets, and great historical relevence. The story was incredible, too.

I was expecting some sappy love story, but really, that was a minor part of the film. There is a great "coyboy" story about cattle and land wars, an awesome story about a child and his relationships with the adults around him, and let's not forget the huge World War II thread. The movie lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, but I was pulled into it the entire time...and I don't even particularly LIKE Nicole Kidman. Ha! I highly recommend this movie for women AND men. Go see it!

Joshua Radin

I think I've already professed my love for Joshua Radin on my blog in the past, but I feel the need to do it again. I'm working from home this morning and I just downloaded his second CD, Simple Times...it's genius. His songs are filled with beautiful harmonies, gorgeous guitar melodies, and a soft and raspy voice. I can listen to the songs at work, in bed, when I'm reading, or even entertaining. If you haven't already, check him out: www.joshuaradin.com.

My birthday is November 5, and he'll be at the Anaheim House of Blues on November 9. I think I'll buy myself a present and go and see him that night, so if anyone wants to join me, I'd love the company!!!

Netflix

I've been a hold out for Netflix all along because I figured I had cable and TiVo, and let's face it, I already watch WAY too much TV. But I finally caved two weeks ago for a trial run. So far, I've had three movies delivered and it's SO flipping easy! I love that I can choose from so many DVDs! I grabbed Made of Honor, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and something else already. I also just got a friendly email telling me that Pride and Prejudice will be delivered on Saturday. How rad is that?! AND, I'm not ashamed to admit that next up in my queu is Anne of Green Gables. : )

Life is grand with Netflix and I'll mock it no longer.

Dave Matthews Band

Clare and I went and saw the Dave Matthews concert on Wednesday night at Staples Center. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! This was actually my first DMB show...which is odd, because my friends have all been multiple time - I wonder why I was never invited!!! Ha! Anyway, we had "the developers" seats and they were pretty darn awesome. I must say that I naively thought that because the concert was indoors that there wouldn't be too much pot smoking going on...boy was I wrong! Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night and had weird dreams. Having never tried pot, I have to wonder if that was a contact high or if I was just THAT tired. : ) Regardless, we had a wonderful time, highlighted by the people watching. There was a woman in front of us, decked out in her Ann Taylor glory (seriously, a baby blue dress and cardigan over it) that was shakin her BA-DONK-A-DONK all night. AND some crazy dude in the front broke out some glow sticks at one point. Too funny!

Sex and the City

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the movie!!! Barbie and I got sassy, went out for drinks, and then went and saw a late show last Friday night. It was quite commical because we clearly weren't the only women with that idea!

The theater was full of sassy women, dressed to the nines, who were loud and proud to be out on the town with their best gals! What I really love about SATC is the friendship among the four main characters. Throughout the series, men and jobs would come and go, there would be family dramas and health scares, but they always had each other - even when they were in a tiff. I love that as a single woman, I had that kind of show to encourage me!!! Anyway, there were scenes in the movie when I (and everyone else in the theater) audibly sighed, and there was one scene where I laughed so hard that I almost cried!

If you haven't seen it yet, RUN out and get your tickets!!!

Barbie and I all dolled up for the movie!