Something Borrowed

I'm very excited today to welcome a new guest blogger! Today Camille from Island Meets City was wonderful enough to review a book for Media Monday so that there could be a post about something that's not television! Cause I know you all are so concerned about that... but anyway. I actually read this book because I saw the movie and like it and was at Walmart needing to find a book to read and saw it so I got it. I was supposed to reciprocate with a review for Camille's blog but I guess there were too many shiny things in the world distracting me so that still has yet to happen. Alright, enough about me, here it is!:

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin:
Review (some spoilers)

Contemporary Chick lit isn’t usually my thing, I tend to read fantasy and thrillers, and at times a good old romance like mills and boons (when the brain cells don’t feel like working much) but when I heard about ‘Something Borrowed’ from my sister (who was completely in LOVE with it) I thought I might give it a shot, if I enjoyed it – great, if I didn’t – well at least I got my sister off my back.

The premise of ‘Something Borrowed’ had me a little put off, I’ve always loved ‘forever after books’ and a story about infidelity and disloyalty didn’t seem so appetizing a read for me. But getting into the book I began to understand why it was so popular and started to actually like the novel and its characters. Rachel feels like a relatable character, she’s down-to-earth and usually always does the ‘right thing’ and Dex is lovable and you can easily see his attractiveness in the situation, although I did feel Emily Griffin tend to sway the audience to really dislike Darcy. If we started feeling anything other than siding with the lead protagonists, she throws in that Darcy was cheating too.

The ending felt somewhat predictable, I would’ve found it more interesting had Rachel and Dex actually ended up together and having to go through the motions of living through what they did. ‘Something Borrowed’ however, gives a fair portrayal of a ‘toxic relationships’ or friendships for that matter, that unspoken rivalry with female friends that has you thinking, are we frenemies? It’s a story founded around friendship just as much as it is on the romantic aspect, or ‘issues’ presented.

Overall I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars, while I didn’t find it a book I absolutely LOVE, it did keep me turning the page. And I will admit, as it isn’t usually something I would choose myself to read, I rated it slightly biased towards my usual choices.

Thanks to Lauren for letting me guest blog, it’s been a blast. For more of what I write, check out what I’ve been reading in the ‘Good Reading’ section of IslandMeetsCity

Blog Swap

(reposted... I have my reasons)
Greetings my readers! Today I have quite the treat for you! 20sb created a blog swap for all its members to take part in so today I have a guest blogger for you. I swapped blogs with Kendra and you can read my post  on her blog, Silky Bowties. The theme of the blog swap is "Summer" so we're all writing about something summer related. So enough of my babbling, I give you Kendra!

Hey everyone! I'm Kendra from Silkybowties, taking over Lauren's blog today.

I decided to do this swap through 20sb! 

A little about me, I am a 20 year old college student studying Sociology. I commute from home so I can still see my mom every day, and my lovely pup. I work retail, and I have a love/hate relationship with it. I have the best friends in the world, and those who aren't my friends, well...sorry. I love anything active or outdoors. I grew up on a the coast so beaches are my thing. 

Moving forward..we are here to talk summer. I'm less than satified with my summer to be honest. I worked a lot as to previous summers I never really worked. That's really the only reason, ha. So now that I am done complaining I will move on to the great parts of my summer!

I didn't go on one vacation.

My brother was a working machine, I worked a lot, mom, well she works night but was busy with the new house all the time..so no time for vacay,

I didn't have a pool..well.

You see, we just bought the house is nov and we did a lot to the house this spring and a new car, so a pool was pushed to the side. I was ok with it since I was never really home, until it got super hot. Then we needed to get creative. So our alternative...

Yea, hold all the curse words, I know you're jealous, and that's okay!

I spent a lot of time at the beach.

Since no pool, we resorted to the beach! Plus my best friend lives right near there so it was always an extra incentive to go so I could see her. This was always fun because we would get the best iced coffee on the way home..mmm

I had a lot of time with family.

My mom and I hung out all the time. Every Thursday was a must, and almost every other day too. We would go anyhwere, beach, fair, just around, or even stay in and have dinner and drinks. My brother came to visit a lot. He's not too far away till nov (he usually lives in North Carolina but is in Connecticut for internship) so whenever he has a few days off he comes to visit. He's the voice of reason, so he's good to have around.

I worked.

I know I said this wasn't good, but some days are great. I got a parking pass through the company (NO MORE PAID PARKING!!) And I also work with one of my good friends so its always a good day when I work with her.

Besides that I just kept busy here are some photos I would like to uncatagorize.

 Fire Pit action

 Best coffee shop view

 Newport Bridge

 My pup.

 Gillette Stadium (Patriots)

Jamestown.

All White Party

 House warming

 Got my second Tattoo

 Those Guys concert

Usher/Akon concert.

So I guess you can say I loved my summer!

Thanks again to Kendra for your post! It was fun getting to know you through this swap!

Diamond in the Rough

Today I am excited to bring you the 2nd edition of  Guest-Photo Monday! Today, I am thrilled to be host to guest blogger, Sarah from Was That Awkward. Check out her blog. It's awesome and awkward. It's aweskward. I know. Best word ever.

Khayelitsha Twps, South Africa

The Khayelitsha townships are about 45 minutes away from Cape Town, South Africa. The conditions people lived in there were beyond comprehension. Even though I was looking right at it, I couldn't believe it. And yet, even though these people had so little, they were some of the friendliest, most welcoming, most community-minded people I have ever met. 

I met two different women who owned Bed and Breakfasts in the town. One of them started a program to try to feed children before school. She can only feed them twice a week; she said if she tried to do it every day, there wouldn't be enough food for everyone. She also started a Christmas program so that every child in the township can receive at least one gift for Christmas, even if it's very small. The other B&B owner tries to employ people from the town as cooks, cleaning services, etc. She said she could probably do all the work herself, but she wants to give other people the chance to earn money. 

This woman studied abroad at one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the world. She probably could have gone anywhere to start a business, but she chose to return home, where she felt she could make the biggest difference. The people I met in Khayelitsha were probably the most amazing people I have ever met, and we could all stand to be a little bit more like them.

Coffee and Legos

First and foremost I have to tell you that today is an extra special exciting day because Katherina over at 100 Miles Highway (you may remember she was a guest here a couple weeks ago), is hosting ME on her blog! Go there now and see my photo tour of my trip to Japan.

Now, onto Tumblr/Twitter Tuesday!

Legos on Tumblr
Your one stop shop for all things awesome and Legos.

@Starbucks
You may not be interested in random Starbucks news but they also tell you about any promotional events going on that you WILL NOT want to miss.

You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone

Welcome to the first Guest Edition of Photo Monday! I am thrilled to be host to guest blogger, Katherina from The 100 Miles Highway, who sent me this beautiful photo and description for me so that I have some photos on here that aren't just of my trips to Japan (I should really go more places). Anyway, here it is!

Tenerlife
by Katherina

Tenerlife, Canary Islands

You never get to really appreciate where you come from, until you leave it. I remember spending days complaining about not having anything to do, about being trapped on an island with the same faces. During my time at University, flying back to the island meant going to the beach all the time - which after a month, started to be boring and repetitive. It was when I started my first job, and stopped having the possibility to go back home for longer periods of time, that I realized what I had been missing out. Sure, the beaches are great. But it's not all it has to offer - mysterious forests,  the highest volcano in Spain surrounded by lunar landscape with fantastic hiking trails, and a impressive coast line that can only be appreciated hiking or from a boat out in the ocean. Now, whenever it's time for me to go back to where I come from, I feel excitement and wonder what new surprises Tenerife has got for me.

For more of Katharina's photos and world adventures, check out her blog:  The 100 Miles Highway  and follow her on twitter @100Mileshighway.

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P.S. Please excuse the grammar in the title, it was from The Counting Crows' Big Yellow Taxi:

How to Shop

Two weeks ago I promised three "embarrassing moment" stories for the next three Wednesdays. Well, not to go back on my word, but I am taking off this week because I have the honor of hosting guest blogger Shannon from ShanimalsCrackers! She was awesome enough to write a story for me to post so that I can take the day off. Fear not, I will be back next Wednesday with another embarrassing moment story unless I come up with another really good excuse (I actually already have one in mind so I think chances are good that it will happen. Okay,  with out further ado, I bring you:

Shopping

by Shannon

I consider myself to be a pretty honest person.

Mom: Shannon, do you want to do these dishes?

Me: No.

Friend: Shannon, I’d like for you to meet Billy. He’s from California too. Isn’t that cool?

Me: Uh, it’s all right.

Stranger: Hi, how are you?

Me: Sad. My cat’s on her deathbed and I had to take her to the vet. I touched her paw to see if I could get a reaction from her, but she just sat there and purred.  Usually she’ll bite my hand to pieces. I’m so worried!

But there is one area in life that I suck at telling the truth: while shopping.

 “Did you find everything okay?” asks every bright-eyed cashier as I’m checking out.

“Yeah,” I eagerly say to the person who’s handling my macaroni and cheese and my mint chocolate chip ice cream.

I’ll admit it: 78% of the time, my answer to this simple question is untrue. I am guilty. I am bad.

No, I did not find everything okay.

To me, shopping should be like this:

1. Have your shopping list and pen in hand
2. Scribble each item off into oblivion once found
3. Place found item in cart (or, as southerners say, buggy—as if you need to cradle your precious Cheetos)
4. On to the next item on the list

***No need to lollygag through the aisles looking at products that “You MUST Have!!!”:

Self-explanatory

Ever wanted to be a kangaroo? Now is your chance!

Anything Twilight

But if a situation presents itself to me where I can’t find the light bulb on my list that I so desperately need, I’m frustrated. I’m impatient. I’m not one to “window shop.”

I don’t like having to make my short legs unnecessarily walk up and down every aisle three times only to continuously be confronted with this:

And, better yet, there are no employees on the floor to ask where the light bulbs are located. So you have to go all the way up to customer service, ask where the light bulbs are, only to be directed in the same location where you were looking for the past ten minutes.

 Repeat: walk up and down each aisle three times.

So, a few weeks ago, I found myself once again in this situation: “Did you find everything okay?”

The moment of truth finally came.

Do I tell the truth and nothing but the truth? The answer I give can make or break my integrity…or do I give the answer that the cashier is expecting?

After debating in my head whether or not to tell the cashier if I did actually find everything okay, I came to a conclusion.

I would tell the truth.

 “No, not really.”

Feeling victorious in the battle that took place in my mind, I felt a sense of freedom. Feeling confident in knowing that what I said was right, I could only anticipate the kind of response I would get. Would she have me fill out a survey for customer feedback on the quality of the store? Would she give me a deal for the items I was purchasing? Would she confide in me that she, too, can’t find anything in this horribly-laid out store? Would she call her manager over to throw confetti above our heads for being brave enough to say what I had actually experienced? Would she deem me best-EVER customer of the month?

Her grand response:

".................................................................................. Oh.”

As she went on duly scanning my purchases.

I finally found the "light bulb" in my head—cashiers don’t care how your shopping experience went.

For more of Shannon's awesomeness, check out her blog:  Shanimal's Crackers  and follow her on twitter @ShanimalCracker