#BookWorm: After You

Hello fellow readers,

Ugh the frustrations of After You by Jojo Moyes. After reading Me, Before, You and falling in love with it's story, characters, and moral questions, I heard there was a sequel called After You. I wasn't going  to read it, because you honestly can't get better than the first one. But my stupid curiosity got the best of me. Warning: If you didn't read the first book or see the movie, the rest of  this will be spoilers for Me Before You. It didn't start off so bad, a lot of Lousia's new and exciting life in London after traveling the world and how she was dealing with losing Will. She goes through a hard time and then... a big surprise happens: Will has a daughter. You find this out within the first thirty pages or so. Like really Jojo Moyes? He has a secret kid? That's the best thing you could have thought of? Ugh. The rest of the book is about Lousia bonding with Will's daughter and trying to learn how to fall in love again.

The book in itself is good. But more unrealistic and frustrating. As a follow up to one of the best books I've ever read? Not great. Disappointing. I wasn't thrilled with it, and could have lived without reading it. 7/10 at best. Like I said as an original book on it's own I may have loved it more, but I didn't love it. It kind of seemed like a way for Moyes to give her fans of Me Before You some insight to how Lousia could go on after Will.

Have you read this sequel yet? What do you think? Am I being too hard on the author? As summer comes to an end and my favorite season fall begins, I've come up with another big pile of books to add to my ever growing list of books to read. Including Harry Potter and The Cursed Child which I have been holding off on reading due to having library books I have to read first. Keep giving me recommendations, I love it!

Thanks for reading with me,
- Olivia :)

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: Alpena, MI

Hello all!

We recently returned from Northern Michigan small town Alpena. My birthplace! This is the one place that truly always has felt like home. We spent a lot of time visiting with my Grandparents and friends, and got to relax as well. It was perfect! Not many people will find themselves make a trip or taking a vacation to small town Alpena (population 10,000 compared to Durham's 250,000) but if you're looking for a place to get away from it all on your way to the UP or lakeside, check it out! I also thought people who I know that live here or have visited would appreciate this list of our favorite things!

1) Lee's Miniature Golf

The most challenging mini golf course I have ever been too. Always a good time!

2) Mancino's 

Okay this is all over Michigan and has been in alpena for like 30 years but I had never been there until this trip. AMAZING pizza. And isn't a grinder basically like a firehouse sub? Someone explain this to me! 

3) Black Sheep Pub

Another new stop this trip. They have fun things going on each night. We went to see one of my best friends brother play in the open mic night. Good variety of drinks and fun atmosphere!

4) State Theater 

If you've been to a normal movie theatre (who hasn't) then you'll probably think the screens at this one is a joke. But it's cheap for tickets and food and the outside is super cool since its old school!

5) Cobby Goose

Painting classes with an instructor and some on your own! It's a BYO place too which is nice! A lot of fun was had when we went last year and it was my first time doing this type of thing.

6) Mandarin Gardens

YUM. Chinese food that I love. Some people don't like it because it's almost always empty in there but I love it. So delicious. 

So there you have it! The best part about going is truly my Grandparents' houses, both on Lake Huron. The water is awesome when it's warm enough! What do the natives think of this list? Or just those of you who drop by? What would you add? Let me know! And just take a look at the gorgeous moon light on Lake Huron. So amazing. I didn't get to post as much this month due to traveling a lot, but with fall coming up in full gear I have some DIY projects and treats I will be whipping up and posting about. And of course books. Always books! 

Thanks for keeping up,

- Olivia :)

#BookWorm: Luckiest Girl Alive

Hello fellow readers,

Have you heard of the new book on the block Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll? Well, it's pretty much just as good as people have been saying. While compared to Gone Girl, it honestly is nothing like that story, but just as enticing. Luckiest Girl Alive takes the trophy for the book I've read fastest this summer, if I put the hours together it would probably be close to ten hours total of reading over three work days. It was that good. So what is it about? The story focuses on the life of Ani FaNelli, a New York living mid twenty year old woman working at the famous Women's Magazine. Her life is perfect, minus the secrets from her past. But that all comes to the surface after her high school wants to do a documentary on its own past, digging up Ani's ghosts. This book goes back and forth between Ani's high school life and her New York fashionista life. I think that is why it enticed me so much, I like books that go between different times.

You do have to get through the fact that Ani is pretty much the most selfish, petty, brat in the entire world. And there is A LOT of bad language. But the best part about this book? Huge plot twist. The ending was subpar, kind of anticlimactic and predictable but the rest of the book makes the stupid ending okay. Rating 8.5/10. A quick, but worthwhile read if you like mystery and suspenseful books.

I have heard that Reese Witherspoon picked up this book to turn it into a movie, which makes me excited, except I hope they change the ending. Have you read this book or heard any rumors about the movie? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading with me,
- Olivia

DIY Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Hello everyone,

Okay who loves Publix Sprinkled Sugar Cookies? I know I do! So I attempted to make them on my own! I've been on a baking kick as of late, since I've had some free time, and this was a cookie I have been wanting to replicate! Wasn't exactly the same, however not bad for a first attempt!

What you'll need:
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter (1 cup)
- 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups of flour (1/8-1/4 cup of flour on standby)
- 1 extra cup of granulated sugar to roll the dough in
- 1/2 cup of sprinkles

1. Combine the butter, sugar, egg, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and flour together in a mixer.

2. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls

3. Roll the balls of dough into the extra cup of granulated sugar

4. Press the sugared dough into the sprinkles and place them onto cookie sheets

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.
TIP: Let cool on cooling racks or if you don't have one a plate, not on the cookie sheets. After about 5 minutes of cooling at room temp, transfer the cookies on the rack to the refrigerator for half an hour for best taste. 

Super quick and easy! Total making and baking time is about 30 minutes or less. I am excited to try making these again, next time with more sprinkles ;) Let me know how yours turn out!

Thanks for reading,
- Olivia