Killing the brick and mortar

I was in a local knitting store today paroosing the books with patterns looking for a specific pattern for a sweater I'd like to make. A couple came in and was asking questions about different yarns then asked for the yarn to be rolled and then promptly told the owner that she couldn't possibly purchase another item because she could buy it on Amazon for less. REALLY?!?!?! I was in shock and being a previous owner of a business, I know the anger and pain that is felt when a comment like this is made.

I have no idea if the customer understands the gravity of her comment. She walked in to the store (which you cannot do at Amazon), asked questions live (which you cannot do at Amazon), had the owner roll the yarns (which you cannot do at Amazon), felt the yarns and looked at the real, live yarns - NONE OF WHICH YOU CAN DO AT AMAZON!

I was literally screaming inside knowing this is the problem with our society. They have no idea the impact the purchases from Amazon have on our stores.

Have a problem? Go in to the store
Have a return? Go in the store
Have a question, can't find the answer? Go in the store
Want to enjoy a hot cup of coffee? Go in the store
Looking to get out and be around people? Go in the store
Want suggestions? Go to the store

NONE OF THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE AT AMAZON

Yet people are constantly KILLING all brick and mortar stores. Do they have low prices? YES but this is BECAUSE they cannot offer any of these things. There is no overhead they have to pay, like the payroll of the people who smile, offer services, do returns, answer questions and take problems FACE TO FACE.

I implore you to consider when you are WALKING IN A STORE how much money are you spending, how much time are you using, making a return and NOT a purchase, what type of resources are you consuming COMPARED TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CLICK IN AMAZON.

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Review: Want to Go Private?

Titile: Want to Go Private?
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publish Date: Aug 1, 2011

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I am truly horrified by what happens in this book. I know, it is real life. I know, it happens all the time, but man, I was horrified. I literally put the book down and went to sleep. Or tried to. I had terrifying dreams. However, I am really, really glad I picked it up and decided to finish it. It has a cleansing soul to it. I felt better at the end. Not quite whole, but definitely better.

The author did such an incredible job making me feel like I was that character, Abby. I identified with her need to reach out and have someone love her, even if the person on the other end was not who they said they were. And I really loved the family's and friend's perspective on this situation. It was simply amazing.

Abby is a girl who is starting high school with her best friend. Sadly as real life shows, we get split up from our friends and are forced to start new relationships. Abby has a hard time doing this, but her best friend doesn't. Which in turn makes her feel more lonely. She turns to her computer where herself and her friends chat on a teen website. Unfortunately, anyone is open to chatting there. Being a nieve 14 year old, things take off faster than Abby can imagine and she is knee deep in a very disturbing situation she is sadly unaware of - until it is too late.

This book covers so many topics - new schools, new friends, bullying, love, lust, peer alienation, family controversy, rivalry and so much more. I really thought it was well developed and well written. However, it was very tough to read the "adult" parts through Abby's eyes. I felt hatred for the man who tells Abby lies.

I really thought this book was the epitome of thought provoking. 

Summary -
Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

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Bloggers Blog Tour

Kudos to Frankie who made the banner & Tamara who put together this FABU blog tour!! (Visit their websites by clicking on their names.)

I am honored to be able to introduce you to 

Beth's blog entitled, Curling Up With a Good Book.

To start the name itself is wonderful because who doesn't love to curl up with a good book?!?! It only goes uphill from there. I love how soft the blog itself looks. The colors are nice on the eyes, her header is brilliantly developed. Her content is all choreographed beautifully and she has good visuals on her sidebars to pull readers into other areas of her blog.

She reviews books, features posts on covers and other subjects all revolving around books. She did a really fun post on villains and even though I always root for the good guy (woman), this was a fun perspective. And I completely agree on two of the choices of her top books of 2012 being Immortal Rules and Under the Never Sky!

If you hurry, you can get in on her giveaway for reaching 100 followers! And hey, while you are there, sign up to follow her awesome book blog.

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Review: Special Issue - Meal Plans Made Easy

Title: Meal Plans Made Easy
Clean Eating Magazine Special Issue

In the Magazine Section
at your local Barnes and Noble
OR
Clean Eating Magazine.com

I picked this up because plain and simple, I am addicted to cookbooks and any cookbook that is smaller and handy, is awesome in my book. I really had no idea how much I was going to love this book and I don't just mean book porn or food porn!

I have been making these  meals and following the plans for a week now and I LOVE IT! Each recipe is so easy and so good. I literally went shopping one day and then each morning, I gather all my stuff together and either eat it then or take it with me to work. I LOVE IT!

I have been struggling with losing weight and I couldn't figure it out. I finally realized I wasn't getting enough protein in my diet. These meal plans have solved that. The majority of them have protein in 2 of the 3 meals.

It also tells exactly how much to serve - a bunch of grapes - about 15, just for those of us (ME!) that don't know what a bunch means. It has really awesome combinations I would never have put together myself.

I also learned how to make my own homemade dressings for salads. I am not a fan of salad dressing. Haven't been for awhile. They are too thick, too sweet or too syrupy. The ones I made at home were so easy and super light, but gave good flavor.

Also a favorite of mine was the occasional juice drink! YUM!!!!

There are two things I would change. ONE, I am dairy free and it includes a bunch of dairy products like cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheeses. I would prefer a back page with substitutions. TWO, I do not know how to broil or poach eggs nor some of the other cooking methods they simply state in here. A page of brief explanation would be good too!

Now, for the food porn -

This was MY FIRST TIME EVER making soup from scratch and it was AWESOME!! Asparagus Soup -
(PS I need to buy a blender bc this spilled over my puree machine)

Asparagus soup with the dressings - crab meat, toasted croutons (GF), red peppers and some cheese garnish (DF). 

This was the ever incredible steak salad with broiled (I think) steak - very rare (sorry for those who prefer well done) with arugula, romaine, mushrooms, carrots and other stuff I can't remember. OH and homemade dressing!!!

Breakfast one morning of a fried egg (bc I couldn't remember how to poach) over arugula, crab meat and toast.

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Review - Marked by PC Cast

Title: Marked
House of Night Novel #1
Author: PC Cast
Publisher: St Martins
Publish Date: May 1, 2007

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So I have been hearing about these books FOREVER! Really, so many people I know talk about these books and how fabulous they are! I keep thinking, I really need to read those books, but just haven't got to them. As a reader, you know how it is. The list just never ends.

I knew I had Marked on my Nook at least a year ago. Knowing I had read it, I bought the second book, Betrayed because I am not a fan of rereading books. I remember them too quickly to really enjoy them for a second time. I started reading, but realized I couldn't remember a thing that happened in the first book. I flipped back to Marked and realized I was only on page 4! I had just assumed I had read it!

I immediately started reading Marked from the beginning and haven't been able to put them down since. I am completely and utterly in love with the story plot. Knowing how it would feel to be marked, but not really knowing what that means other than my entire life will change, would be so awful. Then add on top of that, family that doesn't support or understand me, I'd feel very alone. We are lucky that PC Cast made such a strong female character in Zoey. She uses her Chereoke heritage to stay strong and be in touch with the elements around her. The character development is fascinating. I have a premonition about Aphrodite, the mean spirited, high reigning girl at the House of Night school that loves to torment Zoey. Her best friend and roomy, Stevie-Ray is awesome and so sweet! Her triangle of love interests is a bit much, but who hasn't been in a position where they haven't known whom to choose, but they all seem right when you are standing in front of them?!

This is a set of books I would love to see turned in to a movie, though I do keep hearing similar thoughts behind after book 6, things change and not necessarily for the good. I am hoping I can adapt to the feelings and thoughts of change, but we will see.

Summary -

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed.  In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change.  Not all of those who are chosen do.  It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.  She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.  But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.  When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

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