May 2013 – Page 3 – Concert Katie

Book Review: So Many Reasons Why

Katie May 16, 2013 0 Comments

This book. Where to begin? This book was kind of a mix of every other book I have read and loved over the past year or so. It has some Fifty Shades to it, some dramatic mystery and a ton of twists and turns in the story that I didn’t see coming. So in theory, I should have LOVED this book too. But I didn’t. It’s not to say that it was bad, but it was just like it kept throwing turn after turn at you and then it ended kind of… blah. I actually was MAD at the ending. (I guess that makes it a little like Gone Girl – but I think that ending was worse)

I loved the writing style, I felt like I was in the story and maybe that is why everything impacted me so strongly. Emma is 20 years old and has barely stepped outside in the past 10 years. She was attacked as a child and is now battling severe agoraphobia. She doesn’t leave the house unless heavily sedated and her attack has been weighing heavy on her mind for years. Her attacker is up for parole, which makes things even worse for Emma, knowing that he very likely can end up back out in the world. Her world.

She ends up starting a friendship with her professor, Simon. Things get a bit hot and heavy there (ok, not a bit) and it ends up possibly putting Simon’s job on the line – but Emma has never felt so much like herself and so free as when she is with Simon.

At the risk of giving too much away (there are at least 2 more surprises, though maybe more like 3 or 4) I’ll stop there.

If you ignore the ending (and it probably really isn’t THAT bad of an ending, I might be being dramatic!) the book was great. I just really wish that more was explained. I finished the book with a TON of questions. I just want to know more!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

** This book contains themes such as sexual abuse, drug use and language that make it suitable for a mature audience only.**

Twenty year old Emma hasn’t left the house since she was attacked as a child. Now, with the impending release of her attacker from prison, Emma knows it’s more important than ever for her to regain control of her life. From her unrelenting nightmares, to her strained relationships, to her crippling agoraphobia, Emma feels as though her life is spiralling out of control.

When her professor, Simon Anderson enters her life, Emma must deal with feelings she has never experienced before.

Though both she and Simon know their relationship is bordering on inappropriate, neither of them are able to ignore the intense chemistry that is quickly developing between them.

What was supposed to keep her mind off the attack has left her more confused than ever. When there are so many reasons why you shouldn’t be together, is simply being in love really enough?

Concert Hanson

Hanson at the Wilmington Flower Market

Katie May 15, 2013 0 Comments

Saturday, Hanson would be returning to the Wilmington Flower Market in Wilmington, DE. I had been planning to go for quite some time but as the date got closer, thunderstorms were in the forecast. I figured I’d give it a go – even though I’d be driving roughly 6+ hours to see maybe a 1 hour set that might end up being canceled due to weather. As time got closer we also found out they’d be doing a meet and greet after the show so I figured I’d still make the trek.

I got there around 3pm and was told by my friend who had been there for a while that Hanson had just arrived as well. When I made it to the stage, they hopped on stage to do a quick soundcheck – what perfect timing! And the weather was beautiful, maybe even a little bit too hot and it looked like the storms had moved on.

Then everything got delayed by about a half an hour moving forward. Me & This Army who were supposed to hit the stage at 4, ended up starting at 4:30. Free Energy were supposed to start at 5, ended up starting around 5:30 and the rain began a little bit into their set. I threw my phone and camera in a plastic bag to try and keep it safe and put on my raincoat. Fortunately, it wasn’t a heavy rain and there was no sign of thunder or lightning.

Before Hanson took the stage, the radio personalities called up a girl and her boyfriend to the stage (this can only mean one thing) he asked her about her Hanson tattoo and she said how a lot of fans had tattoos. Then it was time for her boyfriend to take the mic – and of course – he asked her to marry him. She said yes! And then they got congratulations from Hanson and the radio personality yelled “WHERES THE LOVE?” and so Hanson started their set with Where’s the Love. The setlist was an interesting mix – but seemed to be more focused on songs from 2004. (Interestingly enough, that was when they had last appeared at the Flower Market.) They did a few new songs – I’ve Got Soul, Cut Right Through Me, Get The Girl Back and Fired Up and of course the singles – in addition to Where’s The Love they also did Thinking Bout Something, Penny and Me, This Time Around and of course, MMMBop. And for some extra filler, Been There Before which they had us sing along on and Get Up And Go.

Even though we were getting rained on the show was a lot of fun! Afterwards we got in line for the meet and greet. We knew it would be getting cut off – either when they ran out of photos to sign or when the park closed. The park was supposed to close at 8pm because it would be dark. 8 o’clock came and went and they were still going so we thought we had a chance, but at 8:15 they shut everything down because the park was closing. It was frustrating that it wasn’t more organized and many left without getting to see the guys. They were signing AND doing photos and I think if they just signed things would have moved much quicker and they could have got through more people that way. (And everyone looked like drowned rats anyway so the pictures probably aren’t too glamorous)

We did all end up in Taylor’s photo that was used as the final photo of the photo a day in celebration of their 20th year. The band is now 21 years old! (Taylor also was taking pics of me through a car window which was kind of funny because I am sure I have done that to them many times!)

Overall I am glad I got to go, it was a lot of fun and I got to see some friends I haven’t seen in a while 🙂 (Though more of them were supposed to come and ended up not due to various reasons!) Hanson show #79 was a (soggy) success!

Wheres The Love
Ive Got Soul
Thinking Bout Somethin
Been There Before
Crazy Beautiful
Get Up and Go
Cut Right Through Me
Penny and Me
This Time Around
MMMBop
Get The Girl Back
Fired Up

Book Review

Book Review: The Glitter Trap

Katie May 14, 2013 1 Comments

OMG – The Glitter Trap is a story about Lacey, who after delivering food to one of he popular girls in school, ends up somehow stealing her fairy godmother when she set a “glitter trap”. The fairies are attracted to glitter and Paige had made a sign with a lot of glue and glitter – which ended up in Lacey’s hair. If you steal someone’s fairy godmother and her dreams don’t come true, your dreams won’t come true either. This bothers Lacey because she is up to be the intern at the local Zoo.

Katarina (the fairy) gets hurt in the transport from Paige to Lacey’s and she can’t use her wand so Lacey has to try and take over as Paige’s fairy god mother. Meanwhile, she finds herself lying to her best friend Sunny, who thinks she cares about Paige more than her.

Can they work it all out and get Paige the lead in the play and Lacey the internship at the zoo? Will Lacey figure out how to do magic with Katarina’s wand?

I thought that this book was really cute , even though it is geared more for Middle School readers. I also liked how the fairy godmother theme worked through the book – as the dream Paige wanted was the lead in the play at school – which was Cinderella. I also liked all the trouble Lacey got in to when she was trying to do the magic. It was a fun read and a quick and easy read for your pre-teen girl.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Middle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington’s smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical—just not in a ‘prince charming’ kind of way.

Katarina’s wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige’s fairy godmother. Distracted by her new responsibilities, Lacey’s in danger of losing her best friend, Sunny. Can Lacey get the hang of magic, make Paige’s dreams come true, and survive middle school?

Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson’s debut novel is full of heart and charm. Get ready for the Oh My Godmother series to cast a spell on tween girls!

Book Review

Book Review: Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos

Katie May 13, 2013 0 Comments

Simon’s Cat is not something that I had heard about before I saw this book, but I guess I am missing out because it is a bit of a YouTube phenomenon. At first I thought that this would be a rather short book, but was surprised to see it over 200 pages. However, it is entirely illustrations of the cats and no words. You can interpret the story as you see fit. And man, does this cat get in to some situations.

At the end of the book, there are some tutorials on how to draw Simon’s Cat, Simon’s Kitten, a rabbit and some other characters that are in the book which I thought was a nice touch.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Half the size, double the trouble. Simon’s cat has a new little friend who may be even more accident prone.

With over 200 million hits on YouTube, Simon’s Cat is a genuine word-of-mouth phenomenon. Fans from all over the world have fallen for this adorable but anarchic feline who will do just about anything to be fed. Simon Tofield’s beautiful drawings and warm humor come alive on the page in this irresistible humor book—an outgrowth of the enormously popular short films featured on YouTube.

Like all great cartoon creations, from Peanuts to Asterix, from Garfield to Tintin, Simon’s Cat has continued to evolve by introducing new characters and new story lines. After the runaway success of the first two books (Simon’s Cat and Simon’s Cat: Beyond the Fence), Simon welcomes a cuddly new addition to the family in the form of Simon’s Kitten, who is sure to delight Simon’s millions of fans.

Book Review

Book Review: The Honest Toddler

Katie May 12, 2013 0 Comments

I don’t have kids, nor do I want any kids but there is something about The Honest Toddler that keeps me captivated. Maybe it’s because The Honest Toddler tells it like it is. This book is written for parents from the kids point of view – and makes one thing clear – it is not the parents that are in charge, it’s the toddlers. The book was funny, though I thought it would be more like the Honest Toddler I’ve seen on twitter and less like a book.

Each chapter starts with a letter of advice to the toddler, which I found to be the best part. Definitely humorous although if you’re a parent you probably won’t have the time to actually sit down and read the book. One tip? If you’re a parent AND A blogger – delete the blog and see all the free time you’ll have! (Obviously to spend with the toddler instead of blogging about all the quality time you spend with your toddler)

If you’re looking for some humor and maybe some parenting advice in there too – check out this book.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

An irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny parenting guide from The Honest Toddler, the Internet’s most infamous tot, whose unchecked sense of entitlement and undeniable charm have captivated hundreds of thousands of fans online.

In this antidote to heavy-handed advice books written by parenting “experts” who have gotten too big for size 2T britches,The Honest Toddler provides an indispensable manual to parenting that places the toddler’s happiness front and center. Outrageously confident and sweetly indignant, The Honest Toddler tackles everything from preferred toddler foods (unbroken crackers and undiluted juice), unconditional love (accept them as they are—pants or no pants), sleep and potty training methods (none), play date etiquette (mi casa es not su casa) and the proper response to random aggression at the playground (embrace it. Park justice is messy but swift).

The result is a parenting book like no other, one that will leave moms and dads laughing, and maybe crying, as they recognize their own child in the ongoing shenanigans of one bravely honest toddler.

Travel

Tulsa Hanson Weekend

Katie May 11, 2013 0 Comments

Last weekend I went to Tulsa for Hanson’s Members Only Event. I already posted a bit about the show, but now I’ll post about the whole weekend. The Members Only Events used to only be the show, but last year they decided to make them yearly and are now trying to make them something bigger. This year they added on a dinner on Friday night (but I didn’t make it to town in time) as well as an album listening party and a documentary screening for their new album ANTHEM which will be out June 18.

Like last year, they also had a store which had all sorts of new merchandise being debuted for the weekend. The big hit were the pint glasses and coasters. I was nervous about getting the glasses home in my luggage so we hit up a UPS store so I could get them shipped. They arrived yesterday safe and sound!

The thing I was most looking forward to was the listening party – although now I am kind of bummed because there are 3 or 4 songs stuck in my head and I can’t hear them again for another MONTH! Ahhh. The new album is really great. A lot different than what they have done before but really awesome.

The documentary talked a bit about how they really needed a break before recording the new album because they weren’t sure if they wanted to keep making music or not. Fortunately after the break they decided that they would be making the new album!

They also did a 1 mile walk around Tulsa – we happened to show up right at the end of the walk and were able to take some pics of the guys while they were talking and got a photo with Zac afterwards as well. In addition to donating $1 per ticket sold to their Take The Walk campaign, they will also be continuing to do the walks on this fall’s tour.

Sunday there wasn’t too much to do so we did some site seeing – made the trek (again) to their child hood home, the golden driller (my fave) and some other spots around town.

The show was great, seeing a bunch of friends I only see once a year was even greater!

Looking forward to next year’s trek!

American Idol

Idol Top 3

Katie May 10, 2013 0 Comments

The best part about Idol this week? There’s only one week left and it is O-V-E-R.

This week each girl sang 3 songs – one chosen by Jimmy, one by the judges and one by the producers.

I thought that Angie and Candice would end up the Top 2 because Kree seemed to have lost her touch lately. Though I’m glad that the finale is Candice and Kree.

News also came out that Randy is leaving the show after this season and that the producers and judges may ALL be getting revamped. Will that be enough for me to watch it next season? I guess we’ll have to see who the judges are. But I’m leaning towards that I am done with the show.

And OMG why are they making poor Angie sing this song, she is obviously too emotional.

CD Review

CD Review: Rod Stewart Time

Katie May 9, 2013 0 Comments

She Makes Me Happy
Can’t Stop Me Now
It’s Over
Brighton Beach
Beautiful Morning
Live the Life
Finest Woman
Time
Picture in a Frame
Sexual Religion
Make Love To Me Tonight
Pure Love

iTunes Bonus Tracks:
Love Has No Pride
Corina Corina
Legless

Links To Buy Album:

Time is Rod Stewart’s first album of new material in almost TWENTY years! The landmark new album, titled “Time” marks Stewart’s long-awaited return to his songwriting roots and features 12 tracks, 11 of which he wrote and produced. Time was released on May 7th by Capitol Records.

During an early preview of seven tracks, Billboard proclaimed, “Stewart rocks again.” “Lushly produced with an abundance of tempo and an overall guitar-based core sound, his inimitable warm vocals sound as strong as ever.”

The first single off the album is “She Makes Me Happy”. The second single, “Finest Woman” has also already been released due to overwhelming anticipation of this new album!

Time is a landmark release in Stewart’s career, born from a burst of inspiration from which he rediscovered his voice as a songwriter and rekindled his gift for writing the honest, nerve-touching narratives that have been the cornerstone to the first three decades of his career. Since 1991, Stewart, the lyricist and melodist behind such staples as “Tonight’s the Night”, “You Wear it Well”, “You’re In My Heart”, “The Killing of Georgie” and the indelible “Maggie May,” had simply lost his songwriting muse. But, beginning in 2011, during the period he began working on what would become his internationally best-selling autobiography, Rod, it returned.

Said Stewart, “Something about that process of reviewing my life for the book reconnected me and that was it: I was away. Suddenly ideas for lyrics were piling up in my head. Next thing I knew, I had a song called ‘It’s Over’ about divorce and separation. And now I was getting up in the middle of the night and scrambling for a pen to write things down, which has never happened to me. I finished seven or eight songs very quickly and I still wasn’t done and it became apparent that I would eventually have a while album of material to record, which had never happened before.”

Rod Stewart is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Living Legend, and in 1007 he was bestowed the prestigious CBE (Commander of the British Empire). He has released 27 studio albums and garnered an estimated 150 million in album sales worldwide. Later this year, Stewart is scheduled to kick off his “Live the Life” tour in Europe beginning June 1, followed by his return this July to his residency, “Rod Stewart: The Hits” at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, before resuming the North American leg of his “Live the Life” tour with Steve Winwood beginning October 17.

(Photo Credit Penny Lancaster)

Rod Stewart is not someone’s who’s CD I would probably just pick up if I saw it. I know a few of his bigger singles, but he hasn’t had a CD released for most of my life! (Yet still has had 27 albums out which is just ridiculously awesome and crazy.) However, I am enjoying Time a lot more than I thought I would be! The first song on the record – She Makes Me Happy – is so upbeat and happy and fun and I love it, it is great to have the windows down blasting on a nice warm day 🙂 The CD is a great mix of tunes and ends with Pure Love which is such a beautiful slower song. I know, you are all sitting there like – Katie likes a slow song? What? I was surprised too but it is just so calming and well done and it is just the perfect song to end the album on. Can’t Stop Me Now is another one of my favorites – as it seems to be a bit autobiographical of Rod’s career about how he used to sing in pubs and then Maggie May came along…

If you have been a fan of Rod’s, I don’t think you will be disappointed with this album – it is pretty much what I was expecting it to be and sound like based on the little that I did know of his career and other songs. If you’re not a fan of Rod’s but are looking for some new music to check out – then I definitely think you should give this CD a spin, you may be pleasantly surprised with just how much you will love it – I know I was!

I received a free copy of this CD in order to write this review through a campaign for One2OneNetwork. By posting this review, I am eligible for incentives. I was not otherwise compensated for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.

Concert Hanson

Hanson Tulsa Members Only Event

Katie May 8, 2013 0 Comments

Over the weekend I made my yearly trip to Tulsa, OK for the Hanson Members Only Event weekend. More details on some of the other weekend activities will come in the next few days, but for now I will just focus on the event planning of the weekend – the Members Only Event concert!

Due to the popularity of the event and Hanson’s wanting to keep things a bit more intimate, they did 2 sessions. One at 2pm and one at 7pm. We were in the 7pm session. Typically what happens is we receive our new Members Kit (a yearly EP given out to only fan club members) and then they premiere the songs live. Except this year they have been busy working on their new album ANTHEM and the promotion that comes with that so the EP was not ready – but we found out that we were in for a treat! They would be recording the EP live and each of the 5 songs had a part for us to sing or repeat so that we would all be on the EP too.

They started the concert with 6 songs from the new album, ANTHEM. Most of these I had heard at the iHeartRadio concert last month – but one – Scream and Be Free – we all had stuck in our heads because our friend Erin decided to sing one part of it – over and over and over because it was all she knew. When they started playing it we turned around and laughed at her because – well, maybe that would have helped us get it unstuck from our heads. (No such luck though as I’ve now been humming/singing it for the last 3 days – just the same part over and over lol)

After the album songs they reset the stage and did the 5 songs from the EP and taught us our parts before each song. We had to sing “on and on” for the first song, appropriately titled On and On, with Taylor in response to Zac’s singing the chorus. I don’t remember all of our parts but for Roller Coaster Love Zac and Taylor BOTH played drums (2 drum sets!) and we had to yell “COASTER!” For I think it was Best of Times they told us to sing one part and then once the song started they sang a different word so that threw us off a bit…

After the songs they did a Q&A session and then Isaac said they’d be back to do some more. They ended up singing Sound of Light for a second time – I’m not sure why, I guess they wanted something to sound different. And then they did our FAVORITE – You Can’t Stop Us Now which was a great way to end the night!

Once the show was over we hung out and met up with all our friends and did pictures and then we waited for the guys to come out. We ended up missing a photo with Isaac but got one with Zac and Taylor so I’d say it was overall a successful 78th show 🙂

Fired Up
I’ve Got Soul
Cut Right Through Me
Scream And Be Free
Get The Girl Back
Already Home
On and On
Call Out My Name
Roller Coaster Love
Best Of Times
Sound Of Light
Sound Of Light
You Can’t Stop Us Now

Product Review

Product Review: Lysol Touch of Foam

Katie May 7, 2013 0 Comments

Recently I got the chance to try out the Lysol Touch of Foam soap in creamy vanilla orchid scent. I love soap that foams, probably because it is more fun to play with than any other soap. But also because it gives me the feeling that I’m actually getting my hands clean. Lysol’s product has a rich non-drip lather that works on contact to kill 99.9% of germs. It offers 10x more germ protection that the leading national competitor and moisturizer-enriched micro-bubbles leave your hands feeling soft and comfortable after every wash. In addition to the Creamy Vanilla Orchid scent, it also comes in Rose & Cherry in Bloom and Wild Berry Bliss. If they smell even half as good as the Creamy Vanilla Orchid I tried, you’re in for a treat!

Health matters. To all of us. That’s why Lysol started their Mission for Health. With new mom programs, healthy habits initiatives in schools and disaster relief efforts, the company is dedicated to doing more for everyone’s health. The mission is fueled by passion and backed by their expertise in killing germs. So when you use Lysol at home, you’ll know you are a part of something bigger.

The soap is super easy to use, once you bring it home just twist the pump around so that it will actually pump (it has a safety in place so it won’t leak when you are bringing it home from the store!) and give it a couple of pumps to get it started. Then just pump your desired amount on to your hands and wash like usual.

After you’re done, your hands will be left smelling great and you can rest easy knowing that you’ve killed 99.9% of the germs that you had on your hands! (Ick! I don’t even want to think about that!) I have been using the soap for a few days now and my hands don’t feel dried out at all like they sometimes do with other soaps. And I can’t get over how great it smells or just how fun it is to play with foam!

I received a free product to try because I am a bzzagent in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated and all opinions are 100% mine.