Currently- February

Here is what is currently going on in February!

Watching

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I am looking forward to watching the Winter Olympics! I think the Winter Olympics are more interesting than the Summer games...but then again, I live in a 'Winter sport' country. 

Reading

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K.A. Tucker- one my favourite authors- released a new book late last month. I'm waiting for a friend to get her copy so we can read it together. Can't wait to read this!!

Listening

 Body by Loud Luxury feat Brando

I was told by a friend that I need to listen to this song...love it! What a fun song!! It makes you want to dance!! 

Drinking

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 I mentioned the Coffee Crisp hot chocolate in my January favourites. I serious love this and have a cup once a day!

Eating

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 I have been making crescent rolls the past couple of weeks, experimenting with different fillings. These are becoming my new 'on the go' meal. 

Wanting

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I have heard and read so many great things about Due West in NYC. I'm dying to try out this new gastropub!! If only NYC were a little closer...

January // December // October // June // May // April // March //

Hey, It's Ok!

With Amber from Airing My Dirty Laundry

That I didn't watch the Superbowl...not even for the commercials (they don't show all of the same commercials in Canada) or for the halftime show.

To be going to a live recording of Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote As Kids. This is my favourite podcast- so funny. I'm looking forward to going to the recording!

That I am slowly decluttering my place. I have a lot of stuff that I just don't need...some things I've never even used. In the process I'm finding thing I forgot I even owned.

To be disappointed in how quickly people are to judge others, jump to conclusions, and all without knowing a situation or bothering to look at the credibility of a source. Careers and reputations get ruined because someone is looking for their 15 minutes of fame.

That I want to live in a Slim Aaron's photo...the lifestyle and scenes depicted appeal to me. And the photos are just gorgeous.

For Like 5 Minutes

It was a snowy weekend here...had a great Girls Night on Saturday, and was spoiled by a friend for my upcoming birthday. I feel that I had a somewhat productive weekend, but I can't say that confidently. 

Speaking of confidence...

 

Book Club: How To Build A Girl

Image Via Chapters Indigo

Book: How To Build A Girl

Author: Caitlin Moran

Indigo Summary:
What do you do in your teenage years when you realize what your parents taught you wasn't enough? You must go out and find books and poetry and pop songs and bad heroes-and build yourself.

It's 1990. Johanna Morrigan, fourteen, has shamed herself so badly on local TV that she decides that there's no point in being Johanna anymore and reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde-fast-talking, hard-drinking Gothic hero and full-time Lady Sex Adventurer! She will save her poverty-stricken Bohemian family by becoming a writer-like Jo in Little Women, or the Brontes-but without the dying young bit.

By sixteen, she's smoking cigarettes, getting drunk and working for a music paper. She's writing pornographic letters to rock stars, having all kinds of sex with all kinds of men, and eviscerating bands in reviews of 600 words or less.

But what happens when Johanna realizes she's built Dolly with a fatal flaw? Is a box full of records, a wall full of posters and a head full of paperbacks enough to build a girl after all?

What I Have To Say:
This was the January pick for my book club and I wasn't excited about it.

We are introduced to Johanna and her family living in estate housing in England. We get insight into the struggles that her and her family face, especially once their government benefits get cut. Johanna decides to drop out of school and become a writer, to help her family out financially. Johanna takes us on her journey as she starts to build her experience as a music writer and eventually becomes a known music critic. Johanna transforms into Dolly Wilde and introduces us to a very different lifestyle- sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. The antics of Dolly are over the top, sometimes entertaining, most times cringe worthy.

I have read other books by Caitlin Moran, and I am not a fan. Her other books are collections of essays and this is a work of fiction, a novel. The first part of the book was really tough to get through, once Johanna is working and living the life of Dolly Wilde, it does get easier to read. There were some funny moments, but I found a lot of the story to be boring. Johanna was not likeable to me, but the persona of Dolly was fun at times.

Final Verdict:
Unless you are already a fan of Caitlin Moran, give this book a pass.