Overland..... My New Favorite Book!

So, lately I’ve been into books like Eat Pray Love. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I heard it was good. I’m hesitant only because it seems like in general if I love the book, the movie is just okay. Have you seen the movie yet? What do you think? Did you read the book first?

Anyways, I think travel novels are a fun read. I also love romance, adventure and suspense, all of which are found in the book Overland. Have you heard of it? It was written by Mark Levy. According to his blog, after he traveled the world and had some adventures and magical experiences, he was inspired to write this book. It’s a novel, but it is loosely based off of some of his experiences as well. I always think the author does better when the inspiration is personal, don’t you?

After I read the book, I was so sad, not because of the ending, but because I loved the characters so much I was sad the story ended! If you are looking for the best romantic novel or just a book that takes you away from reality for a while, I recommend you pick it up! I actually bought it on Author House here: buy Overland where you can get it for cheap electronically or buy the paperback or hardcover, whatever your preference. I also noticed they have it for Kindle, Nook and IPAD… but sadly I have none of those fancy devices…. I have to admit though, I’m still a sucker for a nice looking book I can stick on my shelf… and this book is pretty, just look at it:

 

Anyways, spread the word… a good book is worth sharing! Happy reading!

Oh Conan, How We've Missed You!!

I can't WAIT!!!!

Guide to Romance & Chivalry

 I stumbled across this, thought it might be a good thought provoking piece for those that could use a little romance - male or female....

Guide to Romance & Chivalry

1. Treat your love like royalty.
2. Whisk her away from responsibilities and surprise her with clandestine, romantic destinations.
3. At the first shiver, wrap her up in your coat.
4. Compliment her in front of her mother, sisters, friends and co-workers.
5. Craft and mail a handwritten love letter for her to discover amongst the bills.
6. Spend at least the first fifteen minutes of your morning holding her in your arms.
7. Carry her picture in your wallet.
8. Sacrifice a little.
9. Confess your affections on paper - Send them to her office marked "personal and confidential".
10. Take a moment to place "your song" in the CD player of her car.
11. Conspire to have the pianist play her favorite song when she enters the restaurant.
12. Take things slowly; true intimacy develops over time.
13. Allow yourself to be a servant.
14. Always look for ways to make her smile.
15. Learn how she takes her coffee - Have it ready when she wakes in the morning.
16. Never stop flirting with her.
17. Never give her reason to believe you are flirting with someone else.
18. Take time along the way to reminisce about your love story together.
19. Lean into to her and gently whisper in her ear.
20. Give her only the most sincere and genuine of compliments.
21. Take her in your arms and dance with her - in the kitchen, the parking lot - anywhere.
22. Never wait for a holiday to shower her with affection - Love her today.
23. Listen.
24. Use the element of fire (candlelight, roaring fireplaces) to ignite a mood of passion.
25. Draw her a warm and fragrant bubble bath drenched with rose petals.
26. Always keep your promises to her.
27. Deliver the flowers yourself.
28. Caress her hand, her shoulder, her cheek to remind her how lovely she is.
29. Tell her how much you desperately need her.
30. Give for the sake of giving - Do not expect anything in return.
31. Stargaze with her.
32. Be sentimental - Return to places together where special moments and fond memories linger.
33. Present her with an heirloom as rich in its pricelessness as her beauty.
34. Live in the moment - Spontaneity is the breath of romance.
35. Propose a toast to her every time you drink champagne together.
36. Introduce her to others with undeniable pride.
37. Learn the passions of her life - Then be a part of them.
38. Ask what she desires.
39. Touch and delight all of her passionate senses - enhance the romance of what she sees, hears, smells, tastes and touches.
40. Plant her a garden of her favorite flowers - Care for it with the same tenderness you feel for her.
41. Never wait for nightfall - Romance should live at all hours.
42. Create moments that will live in both of your memories for a lifetime.
43. Seek ways to add excitement to her normal routine.
44. Take care of dinner tonight.
45. Memorize her face before you part company.
46. Tell others why she is so beautiful.
47. Celebrate her victories, successes and accomplishments.
48. Never hold back - True romance cannot be rationed.
49. Celebrate the girl within her - Push her in a swing - Fly a kite with her.
50. Create your own personal romantic traditions.
51. Love her with your eyes.
52. Lead with her best interest in your heart.
53. Stand when she enters the room - The love of your life just walked in.
54. Smile across the room at her - Let her know you cannot wait to be at her side.
55. Never rush the moment - Savor every second with her.
56. Apologize - Pride has no place in matters of the heart.
57. Always open the door for her.
58. When she travels, send flowers to her destination to greet her when you cannot.
59. Never overlook the obvious - Do not hesitate to give her life's smallest pleasures.
60. Kiss her good-bye - Always.
61. Greet her with a kiss - Without fail.
62. Help your beloved on and off with her coat.
63. Tell her you want to be alone with her - Let nothing stand in your way of making it happen.
64. Learn some of her fantasies - Then make them realities.
65. Dare to take big risks.
66. Plan a rendezvous with her to take place a year from now - Let her know this romance is here to stay.
67. Know what she finds irresistible - Then indulge her.
68. Let yourself miss her - Then tell her.
69. Remember every reason why you fell in love with her.
70. Put your watch, cell phone and the remote control in a drawer before spending time with her - Then lock the drawer.
71. Ask her to fly away with you - Let her know you have already bought the tickets.
72. Swallow your pride - Settle all your arguments before bedtime.
73. Take photographs to treasure someday when your memory begins to fail.
74. Sincerity, selflessness, tenderness, passion and compassion are the five senses of romance.
75. Remember that all great love stories do not have endings.

Quote of the Day

Would you rather be right or free? ~Byron Katie

Guess which one I chose? 

New American Idol Judges?

So, if you know me personally, you probably know my boyfriend Giovanni Amato is a singer – and you probably know he tried out for American Idol. For those of you who don't already know the story, its kinda sad… Not to rehash it here, but he made it past several rounds and we really thought he had a chance to take it all of the way. But, turns out the show is just that, a show – and a reality show at that. So, although it may appear to be a process of elimination to ultimately get only the very best talent on the show – it is far from that. In a nutshell, they already had someone a lot like him for the show, so they didn't need him. It clearly had nothing to do with his talent and abilities, but moreover his personality and looks (which, BTW, are just as qualified as his voice – but that's a whole other blog post – love ya baby). Sure, you'd expect some amount of politics in any reality TV show casting, but it was really unfortunately to have to personally go through that and it really left a lot of us with a bad taste in our mouth and a certain loss in the enchantment we once had for the show.


That said, many family and friends have already stopped watching the show. We thought about skipping it this last year, but we are both singers and reality TV addicts (love Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, The Next Food Network Star, Design Star, etc) so, we found ourselves watching it again…. And, we love Ellen DeGeneres and I think she added a realness and, of course, humor, to the show… that's why I was SHOCKED to see this pop up on my MSN news yesterday:


Kara DioGuardi Reportedly Fired From 'Idol'

Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez said to be replacements
 

Kara DioGuardi has been fired from "American Idol" — and is set to be replaced by Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler, according to a new report.


The revolving door of judges on the TV talent show is spinning once again — DioGuardi is said to have been booted from the judging panel as part of the producers' ongoing cast shake-up.

TMZ.com reports that TV bosses have finalized deals to recruit both Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who will join Randy Jackson for a three-judge format on the upcoming 10th season, due to premiere in January.


The news follows Ellen DeGeneres' shock announcement on Thursday that she is stepping down from her judging role after just one series on the show, replacing Paula Abdul.


Simon Cowell, who has been with the show since its 2002 inception, quit to concentrate on launching a new series, "The X Factor."
 
So, Kara is fired, Ellen is quitting and we already knew, but Simon is gone!


WHOA!


Now it's said that it'll be Randy and Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez! Wow… I kinda like the new line up. What do you think?

Incredible Video

This kind of movement and dance is so amazing to me! Imagine how much strength and practice it would take to be able to do this:



I respect anyone who has the dedication to show how incredible and beautiful the human body can be! Brilliant!

Word of the Day: Eminent

Some of my favorite definitions:

EMINENT defined:

• standing out so as to be readily perceived or noted
• exhibiting eminence especially in standing above others in some quality or position
• high in station, rank, or repute; prominent; distinguished: eminent statesmen
• conspicuous, signal, or noteworthy: eminent fairness.

Synonyms:

celebrated, renowned, illustrious, outstanding, famous, noted; notable.

Live Your Best Life

I got an e-mail from O today. Thought I`d share:

All of Oprah's favorite experts came out for O Magazine's 10th anniversary celebration in New York City. Here are the top 10 best things they learned, from experts Martha Beck, Peter Walsh, Dr. Oz, Donna Brazile, Suze Orman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nate Berkus and Oprah herself:


 
1. "I really believe when you give to other people, you give to yourself." — Oprah

2. "When you do the thing you fear, the thing loses its power to scare." — Martha Beck

3. "Mistakes will be made. Failure will occur. You pick yourself up and carry on." — Elizabeth Gilbert

4. "It is people who give you a raise or get you a job. It is people who control money." — Suze Orman

5. "Your attitude will determine your altitude in life. Let go of any baggage you can." — Donna Brazile

6. "You have to be the expert on your own body. Everything is a clue." — Dr. Oz

7. "Design is not about the money or keeping up with anyone else. It's about the story behind [your choices]." — Nate Berkus

8. "Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor—it's anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living." — Peter Walsh

9. "I think the best accessory you can wear is confidence." — Adam Glassman

10. "When your to-do list has you coming undone, you have to step back and come back to center. Without a connection to something that is real, you will lose your way." — Oprah

Prop 101 – Arizona Vote Please

I got this in my e-mail today, thought I`d encourage voters to make an educated decision and VOTE! Our school programs are already being cut. Ashton is going into Jr. High next year here is Gilbert AZ and the electives are pretty limited. Things I loved and felt made school more interesting and fun (like Drama) are already cut! If they don`t get help, what is next to go? I`m not telling you which way to vote, but just TO VOTE!

   

I`m voting YES! to Prop 101 because I want my kids to have the kind of public education they deserve.

   

Here`s the e-mail: 

Dear GPS Parent,

The Governor and the Legislature have proposed a temporary sales-tax increase of one cent to go directly to schools, health and human services, and to public safety.  Many of you have asked about the impact of Prop 100 on Gilbert Public Schools.  The following links will provide you with current information on the GPS budget and the impact of Prop 100.

http://www.gilbert.k12.az.us/superintendent/prop100faq.php

http://www.gilbert.k12.az.us/superintendent/prop100impact.php

    

I encourage you to exercise your civic duty, study both sides of the issue, and then vote your conscience on May 18.  Early ballots may be requested of the Maricopa County recorder by visiting their site: https://recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyvoteballotnet/evbrequest.aspx

Thank you for your continued support of Gilbert Public Schools. 

    

Dave Allison, Ed.D.

Superintendent, Gilbert Public Schools

   

P.S. If you never get out to vote, get an early ballot here and fill it out at home and mail it in! It`s EASY! Just do it!!

Dr. Oz Reminds Me to Live for the Now

It`s no secret I love Oprah. I don`t always get a chance to catch the show (in fact I never watch it anymore), but I do subscribe to the O newsletter and daily inspiration. Today the O newsletter told me there are '10 Things Dr. Oz Knows for Sure', so I checked it out. I like #3 and thought I`d share with you:


3. We regret the actions we don't take more than the ones we do.

A few years ago, I appeared on Oprah with Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor dying of pancreatic cancer. He told me that he had recently taken his family on a trip to Discovery Cove to swim with dolphins. It was something that he'd always wanted to do, but it wasn't until he was dying that he made it happen. The next day, I booked the same trip with my family. If there's something on your wish list for life, make plans today to do it.


 
Just a little reminder: live in the now, live for the NOW! We all hear and even say, live each day like it were your last, but how many of us actually take action on that? I don`t know about you, but I have a huge list of things I want to see, try, do, visit, learn, love, enjoy…. So, why wait? I`m doing it… NOW!

Quote of the day: I love you Gio...

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

-St. Augustine