Music of 2013

Albums of 2013:

• Lady Gaga: Artpop
• Bombshell: The New Marilyn Musical from Smash
• Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 1
• Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2
• John Mayer: Paradise Valley
• Katy Perry: Prism
• Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Michael Buble: To Be Loved
• Justin Timberlake: 20/20 Experience Part 1
• Justin Timberlake: 20/20 Experience Part 2
• Kelly Clarkson: Wrapped in Red
• Mary J Blige: A Mary Christmas
• Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1

Songs of 2013:

• American Girl by Bonnie McKee
• Best Day of My Life by American Authors
• Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
• Burn by Ellie Goulding
• Counting Stars by OneRepublic
• Cups by Anna Kendrick
• Get Lucky by Daft Punk
• I Will Be Found (Lost at Sea) by John Mayer
• Let it Go by Idina Menzel
• Pompeii by Bastille
• Roar by Katy Perry
• Royals by Lorde
• Say Something by A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
• Stay by Rihanna
• The Wire by Haim
• Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus
• You Ain't Dolly (You Ain't Porter) by Ashley Monroe and Blake Shelton

Books of 2013

Books I Read in 2013:

• If I Stay by Gayle Forman
• The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
• Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond
• The Selection of Kiera Cass
• Every Day by David Levithan
• The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
• Heist Society by Ally Carter
• Bossypants by Tina Fey
• Cruise Confidential
• Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
• Still Alice by Lisa Genove
• Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
• What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
• The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• Just One Day by Gayle Forman
• Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
• Most Talkative by Andy Cohen
• Then Again by Diane Keaton

Pine Cones

Mom had me collect a bunch of pine cones while we were in Lake Tahoe.  She had Dad and I make a wreath out of them.  I looked up a bunch on Pinterest to see how they were made. For the Wreath, we bought a metal base.  Dad cut floral wire and wrapped them around the cones, attaching them to the base, two strips for each pine cone.

I hot glued ribbon around the back of the metal base, so the wreath wouldn't scratch the door.  Dad tied a thick thread to hang the wreath on the door hanger.  

I sprayed the cones with red glitter spray.

Mom made a red ribbon bow for it and we hung it on the door.

For the Ornaments. I hot glued ribbon to the top of the pine cone to create a loop so we can hang them on the tree.  Then I sprayed the cones with red glitter spray.

 I then mod podge different colors of glitter on them.

Then I put them on the tree.

Carnival Freedom

On Friday the 15th, we flew to Ft. Lauderdale, with layovers in Denver and Austin.  We stayed at the Weston Courtyard by Marriott in room 418.  We ate dinner at Shorty's BBQ in Fort Lauderdale. I had the beef brisket plate.  We drove past the new LDS Temple in Davie. 

     

On Saturday, we went to Walmart and got groceries.  We ate breakfast at McDonald's.  We boarded the Carnival Freedom.  It was our first time on this ship.   We were in port with Celebrity Eclipse, Westerdam, Crown Princess, and Oasis of the Seas.    We were in cabin 9269 on the lido deck.  After we unpacked, we had to go to the muster drill in the Chic dining room.  We went and tried chicken tortilla soup and pulled pork at the Taste Bar.  We had dinner in the Posh dining room at table 557.  I had the Caesar salad, chips and salsa, sweet and sour shrimp, and the black forest cake.  Service was very slow.  We were at a table of 8 with a couple and her father from Kansas, and a single older man from New York who kept talking about medical marijuana.  We went to the Victoriana lounge and watched the ballroom dance class to the song, Sway.  We played trivia and watched Game Show Mania.  

Sunday was our first full day at sea.  We had breakfast in the Freedom Restaurant.  We signed up for Shore Excursions and saw the Fun Ashore Talk with our cruise director, Craig.  We went to the shopping Talk and had to wait in line for coupons at the shopping desk.  I finished reading, Most Talkative by Andy Cohen.  For lunch, I had chicken fingers and key lime pie.  It was our first formal night.  I wore a white shirt, my red and black skirt, and a black jacket.  For dinner, I had a fruit cocktail, Strawberry Bisque, Prime Rib, and Warm Chocolate Melting Cake.  The man from New York changed tables, so we had an elderly couple from Florida join us.  We went and saw the comedian, Smiley Joe Wiley, who we had seen on a previous ship.  The main show was Ticket to Ride, a tribute to the Beatles.  I love when they pass out the glow sticks for the final numbers.  I tried a Mango Madness smoothie, which is mangoes with grenadine.  We went and walked around the shops on board.  I finished reading, Catherine by April Lindner.  We met our room steward, Sladana, who was very nice.  We had an elephant towel animal in our room.  

Monday was our second full day at sea.  We walked around the shops some more.  The ship was very rocky, so we returned to our cabin.  For dinner, I had a fruit cocktail, jerk pork loin, and fig cake.  Due to the rockiness of the ship, the main show was cancelled, so we saw Smiley Joe Wiley again.  There was a rabbit towel animal in our room.  

Tuesday, we docked in St. Thomas.  We were there from 8 am to 6 pm.  We were in port with Carnival Dream, Oasis Of The Seas, and the Celebrity Reflection.  We took an open air taxi into Charlotte Amalie.  Mom bought some tablecloths and some jewelry.  We walked back to the ship, which was a couple of miles.  For dinner, I had the peach soup, farfalle with turkey and peas, and the bitter and blanc.  We sat on deck 3 and listened to the Rock band.  The main show as the Magic of Bobby Borgia.  It was pretty incredible with some neat tricks.  

  


Wednesday, we docked in Antigua. We were there from 8 am to 6 pm. We were in port with Carnival Conquest and Celebrity Summit.  Dad went on a Catamaran Sail and Snorkel, which also had a beach break.  Mom and I walked through the shops near the dock.  She bought a hand painted purse and some tablecloths.  There was a calypso band playing near the ship, which was nice to hear.  We sat in the lobby and used our ipads.  I finished reading, Insurgent by Veronica Roth, which is the second book in The Divergent Trilogy.  After a nap, I finished reading The Elite by Keira Cass, which is the second book in the Selection trilogy.  For dinner, I had the fruit cocktail, chicken pot pie, and the white chocolate bread pudding.  The elderly woman at our table kept bringing me books to read.  We went and played Michael Jackson Trivia.  The main show was Jump Jive and Wail, a tribute to the 1940's.

Thursday, we docked in Tortola.  We were there from 7 am to 2:30 pm.  We were the only ship in Port.  It rained the whole time.  We took the three hour tour to North Shore and Pusser's Landing.  I finished reading, Maybe This Christmas by Janet Dailey.  For dinner, I had chicken noodle soup, tom turkey with cranberry and sage stuffing, and the chocolate raspberry vanilla cream cake.  We went and watched Karaoke.  Dad went and saw the Juggler.  

Friday, was our final full day at sea.   We ate brunch in the dining room.  I had a fruit platter, blueberry pancakes, and a strawberry peach smoothie.  We sat with a couple from Wyoming.  We went and got some shirts in the gift shop.  I finished reading, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, which is the third book in The Divergent Trilogy.  We played Decades trivia.  We watched the dance class to the song, "Greased Lightnin'" and the Newlywed game.  It was our second formal night.  I wore my turquoise shirt, with my turquoise and blue skirt, and black sweater. For dinner I had the Bing cherry soup, the Chateaubriand with mashed potatoes, and the baked Alaska.  We saw the comedians, Mike Lucas and Christine Stedman.  We had a monkey towel animal.  Dad went and saw the Carnival Legends show.  

Saturday, we docked in Nassau, Bahamas.  We were there from 1 pm to 7 pm.  We were in port with Enchantment Of The Seas, Carnival Fascination, and Carnival Imagination.  We went and played 50/50 trivia. We went and got some shirts in the gift shop.  Dad went on Catamaran Sail and Snorkel for three hours.  Mom and I just stayed on the ship.  I finished reading, Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, which is the second book in Burn for Burn Trilogy.  Mom and I sat on the balcony, watching the Fascination sail away.  For dinner, I had the Mango Cream, the Fettuccine with chicken, and the Grand Marnier Souffle.  The main show was the Big Easy, a tribute to the music of New Orleans.  

Sunday, we disembarked the ship.  We stayed at the Weston Courtyard Marriott again.    We went to the Sawgrass Mills Mall and ate lunch in the food court.  I bought some books and DVDs.  We ate dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp in Ft Lauderdale and I had the shrimp Po Boy. It was very windy and rainy on the beach.  I finished reading Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, the final book in the Infernal Devices series.  

Today, we flew home, with a layover in Denver.   I watched Jurassic Park: The Lost World while on the plane.  We picked up the cats from their boarding place.  

Leaves

I had a bunch of old plastic leaves left over from other crafts.

I modge podge the leafs and dipped them in a plate of glitter.  I also punched a hole in the bottoms of each leaf and made a hanger of floral wire.  

Gold Leaves and Pine Cones:

Expresso Bears:

Expresso Leaves:

Copper Leaves:

Red Leaves:

I made a garland of leaves with a hole puncher and floral wire and hung them on the railings inside our house.  

Books That Changed My Life

CNN released a list this week, called Young adult books that changed our lives. 

Here are the books that changed mine, that made me think twice about the world, developed my imagination, and let me discover new things:

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
• The Catcher in the Rye by John Salinger
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Feed by M.T. Anderson
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Uglies by Scott Westerfield
• Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

California

On Sunday the 15th, we drove to Las Vegas.  We stayed at the South Point Hotel and Casino in room 1122.   We ate dinner at Dickey's BBQ and walked around the South Outlets.  We drove up and down the strip.  One car, in front of us, at every red light, would get out of the car and dance to the music of the hotels.  It was pretty funny.  

On Monday, we ate breakfast at IHOP at Whiskey Pete's in Prymm.  Inside the hotel, they had the Bonnie and Clyde car.  We drove to San Diego.  We stayed in Hotel Circle at The Comfort Inn and Suites in room 213.   I finished reading, "Tiger Eyes" by Judy Blume.  We ate dinner at El Torito in Mira Mesa and then went and got groceries at Walmart.  

On Tuesday,  Dad had to go to his tax convention. Mom and I went to North Park Produce to get some pears and grapes.  We went to the Farmer Outlet and got some white nectarines.  We walked around Target where I got some Pumpkin M & M's.  They tasted more like Cinnamon.  We went to the Fashion Valley Mall.  We got some clothes at Old Navy.  We went to See's Candies and got Sara a box as a present.  I got some pumpkin truffles and suckers.  Mom bought the new Frozen figurine set at the Disney Store.  We ate clam chowder in bread bowls and cookies at the Boudin SF Bakery.  We picked up Dad and went to the Gaslamp Quarter.  We ate dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

On Wednesday, Dad had to go to his tax convention.  Two old men at breakfast, were dressed exactly alike in striped white shirts, tan shorts, and suspenders.  Mom and I walked around Target, Kohl's, and Old Navy.  We got some dried coconut at Trader Joe's.  We went to the Hazard Center at ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.  We picked up Dad and went to the Seaport Village.  We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  I had the Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake.  

On Thursday,   Dad had to go to his tax convention.  I finished reading, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han.  We went to Target.  We went to the Fashion Valley Mall.  I went to the Apple store and bought a new charger for my ipod.  We ate lunch in the food court, where I ate Greek chicken and rice at the Cafe Socrates.  We picked up Dad and drove to Old Town.  We went and did the tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.  Dad volunteered me to be the soldier.  I had to wear a bayonet, hold a rifle, hold a food ration bag, and wear a belt with the MB belt buckle.  We also panned for gold.  We looked up our ancestor, Moses Wade, on their database and learned some more stuff about him.  We drove to Ocean Beach and walked around the pier and the shops.  There were a lot of homeless people and hippie stores.  We went to Chili's for dinner.  

On Friday, We went to Belmont Park and walked around Mission Beach.  We drove up to Anaheim and ate lunch at Mrs. Knott's chicken.  We stayed at the Super 8 next to Disneyland.  We were in room 115 and it smelled weird.  We met Ryan and Sara at El Torito for dinner.  We walked around Downtown Disney.  I bought some pins and I waited in line for like an hour for Caramel Kettle Corn for mom.  

On Saturday, we went to the OC Swap Meet in Costa Mesa.  We got strawberries and no kernel popcorn puffs.  We picked up Ryan and Sara and ate lunch at the Crab Cooker.  We went to the Hotel Montage in Laguna and walked around their cliffs.  We went to Dolce Gelato and I had the blueberry pomegranate with banana cream.  

On Sunday, I finished reading, "It's Not Summer Without You" by Jenny Han.   Sara and Ryan made us lunch at their house and we watched their wedding video.  We drove up to Long Beach to find the cruise ship terminal, next to the Queen Mary.  We went to McDonald's for dinner and watched the Emmy Awards.   

On Monday, we checked out of our hotel we drove to Las Vegas.  I finished reading, "We'll Always Have Summer" by Jenny Han.  We stayed at Circus Circus in 25840. We ate dinner at Metro Pizza and walked around The Boulevard Mall.