25 Days ‘Til Christmas

Yes, this one is a little late, but I just finished this one tonight. Even though I should be reading Gone with the Wind for book club. I was so close to the end though and decided to finish it.

25 Days ‘Til Christmas is by Poppy Alexander and I can’t wait to read another book by her. I do believe it’s her first book. I am following her on Goodreads so when her next book comes out. I will definitely look forward to it. Anyways, onto the book.

We meet Kate, a widowed mother trying to get by. Her husband in the Army left one day and never came back. Christmas has never been the same. Four years later, she has decided this Christmas, she will do whatever she can to help make Christmas actually feel like Christmas. She wants to do all she can to help her son, Jack.

Daniel also had suffered a loss. He is not ready for Christmas. There is one thing he wants to do. Find the Christmas Tree girl. That might just be what he needs for Christmas.

It was nice to read this. It’s been ages since I’ve read anything like this. This surprises me because I watch Hallmark movies all the time and still have a lot of them on DVR that I haven’t watched.  I might even look for another book like this. Not Christmas theme of course. Although, nothing wrong with reading a Christmas book any time of the year. Because I’m sure I’ll read one at some point this year.

I don’t know if I have any favorite characters in this one. I liked the main couple. But, not sure who would I say is my favorite of the two. I guess I like both of them equally?

What I liked about this one was that it wasn’t all candy cane and mistletoe. Both Kate and Daniel had their issues. Kate would do her best to make it a perfect Christmas, but it didn’t always go the way she planned. I liked that. Yes, some romance books are great with all happiness. But, it’s nice to see a book that doesn’t always have happiness from the beginning. Did I cry? No, but it was enough to get me to go awww with different emotions.

I think the only thing I didn’t like, was the ending. In the last few chapters, it felt rushed. I get it. They probably didn’t want the book to be longer, but I would have been okay. I’m not saying 500 pages of the book. But, maybe a little more. Also, there was a plot that was left unanswered. I guess we are to assume the end result of the book was a good result. But, we will never know.

If you like Hallmark, Christmas, and a romance? I would definitely recommend this one.

Is this thing on?

I feel like I’ve said this before. But, here is me trying this out again. How has everyone been? I’ve been okay. Nothing really new is going on. The biggest thing for me lately I guess is that I turned forty last month. It doesn’t seem possible. I don’t feel forty. Well besides the body telling me otherwise, I just don’t feel it.

It’s weird to think that my twenties were two decades ago. The 2000s. Here we are now in the 20s. Time does fly, but is it always fun? Yes and no. I could tell you everything that has happened since the last time I posted, but that could take forever. So hopefully starting tonight, I will keep you updated and whatever. I do have another post to do after this.

I feel like I should have started back up with Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker. Never fear, I will talk about that.  I still have so many thoughts on the latest Star Wars. I don’t even know where to begin. What I definitely need is to meet up with my two friends who love Star Wars as much as me and love analyzing it like I do. The problem is, one lives a few hours away. Hmm, maybe we could meet halfway somewhere one weekend. Decisions, decisions.  I know there is always Facebook, but talking to my friends over lunch or coffee? That sounds so much better.

The only other thing I can think to mention right now. It is the weather. Today was amazing. It felt like fall or early spring when it starts to get warm. Too bad Mother Nature is a tease. I’m pretty sure by the time I wake up tomorrow, it’s supposed to be in the thirties? No snow, but it will come. This is northeast Ohio, snow will return.

Okay, really this post was just me saying I am back. I hope. Please be patient with me as I try to get back into the groove of blogging again. Don’t forget you can always find me on Instagram. I will post below a link. Be aware though, there will be lots and lots of pictures of dogs.

@robyn.e.sadler

The Latest Vanity Fair

I now have both copies of the newest Vanity Fair. So happy. But, how do I read this month’s Vanity Fair without ruining the copies? Decisions, decisions.

I got my usual copy of Vanity Fair and it was Kylo. Lucky for me, Barnes and Noble had a copy with Rey on it. I won’t lie. I was nervous. I had no clue who I would get and to top that off. What if I couldn’t find the other?

I can hear people now. Why two copies of the same magazine? If you know me and my love for Star Wars, you would understand.

The Phantom Menace: 20 Years

I don’t know what is scarier. The fact it’s been twenty years since I finished my first year of college or that The Phantom Menace is twenty years old today. Hard to believe it’s been that long.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see the movie opening day, but I didn’t wait long. This was the movie that would introduce me to Ewan McGregor and my love for Obi-Wan would grow even more.

While most people weren’t fans of Jar Jar Binks. I would say the one scene I didn’t care for was the pod racing. Otherwise, I loved the movie. How could I not? It’s Star Wars.

Happy Birthday, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

The Meg

Surprisingly, The Meg was not that bad.  I sat down with some popcorn and a drink and was ready for a good laugh. The movie trailer made me think of SyFy. You know, one of those cheesy shark movies. But, it was at the library so I had to grab it.

It starts off with Jonas having to face the past. He is called to help others trapped at the bottom of the ocean. There, along with others, it is discovered that Megalodon might not be extinct after all. Jonas and the others go after it before there are many victims at a nearby beach.

I didn’t hate it, but I don’t know if I could see me buying it for my movie collection. It’s no Jaws. It is a step up from Sharknado. But, that’s not saying much. I would take it over Deep Blue Sea.

Check out, if you haven’t already. Let’s discuss.

Isn’t It Romantic

I have a feeling I’m the only one. But, I would actually see this one.

Roswell, New Mexico

So, I had to do it. I had to watch the new Roswell. To my surprise, it wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t say as good as the original. But, I could see giving it a couple more episodes. Who knows, I might even watch the whole season. Of course, as long as I don’t get behind.

There were similar parts between the new and the original, but I could see the new version going in its own direction. Instead of Liz Parker, we meet Liz Ortecho. It’s been ten years since high school. Right there is the second difference. The original takes place in high school. The third difference is that Liz had a sister, Rosa. So, as you can see there are some differences.

Max still has the same last name, Evans. This time, he is a cop. Which I found interesting.  Also, interesting he works with Sheriff Valenti. If you remember the original. The two started off on the wrong foot. Also a difference in this one? Valenti is a woman. Not a bad thing, I could get used to it. She still has Kyle as her son. We do meet Kyle in this one, but the two didn’t interact with each other.

Hopefully, this doesn’t spoil it. But, we’ll just say the way Max saves Liz in this one, is very similar to the original.

I will have to do spoiler posts eventually. Especially, because I would like to discuss characters like Alex and Michael. Give me one more episode for that. All I can say is that there is definitely a difference from the original with those two characters.

Did you see it? What did you think? Please beware of spoilers in the comment section. Enter the comments at your own risk.

Hocus Pocus the Sequel

I did it. I finally finished Hocus Pocus the Sequel. It only took how long? I have to say I am a little disappointed in this one. The first half was great. But, that was the movie in written form. The second half? Not so great.

We follow Max and Allison’s daughter Poppy. Poppy and her friends don’t listen and go to the Sanderson house where it all goes downhill. I don’t know what else to say about the book. Wish I could, but it was a struggle to get to the last page. We’ll just say that they had a mission to save Poppy’s family and the town before the Sanderson sisters stayed on this earth.

It just did not grab my interest.  I’m one of those people who have to finish the book no matter what. In some cases, I’ll grab the audiobook in hopes that might help, but I decided to do it here and there by the book. Unfortunately, that went from mid-October to now.

As always I don’t want to stop you from reading the book. If you do read it and like it. Let me know. I always like when that happens. Sometimes I can see the book in a new light.

One Year Left

Well, this morning I said goodbye to thirty-eight and hello, to thirty-nine. Am, I ready for the last year of my thirties? Yes, and no. The thirties weren’t bad, but not as exciting as my twenties. I am looking forward to my forties in the sense that maybe I’ll be happier in that decade. At least compared to my thirties. I had goals in my thirties that I never accomplished. But, maybe the forties I will?

Again, I’m not saying my thirties were bad. It just wasn’t my favorite decade in my life so far. I think we all go through that. I know some who weren’t a fan of their twenties, but loved their thirties.

I decided for my thirty-nine self, I’m only going to have a few goals. Goals that will get me where I want to be. Where I would like to see my future self. There is one goal, I’m still hoping for. But, at this point in my life. I’ve given up on that.  Am I okay with giving up? Yes, and no. But time will fix that. And if it happens, awesome.

Not doing anything too exciting for my birthday. I took today off from work. I got to sleep in and have a lazy morning. Which, I loved.  I do have my book exchange party with my book club tonight. I look forward to those every year to see what new book I get. We all have different tastes, so it’s always fun to get a book I might not pick up.

After book club, I plan on just getting into my pj’s and my new Star Wars snuggie thanks to the bestie. Hopefully, curl up with the sequel to Hocus Pocus. This book, I’m definitely struggling with. The first half of the book was good. It was the first movie. The second half where the kids are now grown up? Yeah, I’m having trouble with this part.

In sad news as I was writing this. My phone alerted me about Penny Marshal’s death. So sad. I grew up watching her.  She will be missed.

Happy Belated Birthday Jane

I meant to post this yesterday. Yesterday was Jane Austen’s birthday. She has always been my all-time favorite author. Obviously, it’s been years since she passed away. She would have been 243 if she were maybe a vampire?  

Every year on her birthday, I read something of hers. Rather it’s a chapter from Pride and Prejudice, her letters, prayers, etc. I also watch a movie. Before bed, I watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. I could have watched the 1995 version, but it was 11:00 at night when I started the movie. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to watch the 1995 version if I wanted to sleep.

This year, I couldn’t help but realize I’m almost two years away from being the age she was when she passed away. Right now, I’m freaking out about turning thirty-nine. But, in reality, I know it’s still young. Austen was young when she passed away.

No matter the new authors I experience, I think she will always be my favorite author. I’ve come across a lot. But, I always come back to Austen. I read all her books almost every year. Sometimes I read Pride and Prejudice a few times a year.

I think I might have to continue a Jane Austen night. It is still early. I could watch the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. But, I could always watch another movie. So many decisions. What to do, what to do.

But either way, Happy Belated Birthday Jane Austen!