Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Online Daybook/ Currently/ 7QT: August Review with Fave Links, Movies, TV and Music

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • The cool weather after last week’s heat wave.
  • Positive answers to some special intentions.
  • Traveling plans.
  • Phone calls from my mom.
  • A date with my Sweetie.
  • Hugs and kisses form my little ones.

Praying for..

  • Many special intentions from family and friends, especially those carrying heavy crosses.
  • Those fighting cancer, illness and mental health issues.
  • For the victims of natural disasters, especially for our friends living in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
  • All pregnant moms (especially family members), those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
  • The souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

On Saturday I was a foul mood. It started for no particular reason, but I just felt like I was tied up in knots. My patience was low and everyone was getting on my nerves. Then all these negative thoughts started creeping into my mind. Thoughts that made me doubt myself and my abilities as a daughter of God. It had been a long time since I battled that voice and it made my foul mood worse.

Later that evening, we attended the Saturday Vigil Mass and I knelt before Our Lord in the Tabernacle and asked Him to bring peace to my soul. I asked Our Lady Undoer of Knots to unwind the knots of my heart. During Mass the celebrant talked about 9/11 and read the prayer said by Fr. Mychal Judge, the Catholic priest that died while serving his fellow New Yorkers on 9/11. As the celebrant said the words, I repeated them and prayed them to Our Father and the darkness that was in my soul lifted and I felt at peace again. I was able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist ready to love and serve Him once again. Thanks be to God.

 

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Around the House…

We are back in school mode so there are lots of backpacks, lunch boxes and homework papers scattered around.

 

Family Chit Chat…

Thank you for all your prayers for Brian. In August, he had his yearly cancer testing and the bloodwork and CT scan both show no signs of cancer. Praise God! We appreciate all our prayers and words of support!! <3

 

It was a double birthday month! Here we are in 2009 and eight years later in 2017 John-Paul and I are celebrating our birthdays together.

In August the boys were back in school, Bella was back to high school and I was back to writing. 🙂

The Blessed Is She Team Retreat in 2016

In the next few weeks I have a couple trips planned. I’ll be flying to Wisconsin to attend the Blessed Is She Team Retreat. Last year was such a wonderful time and I can’t wait to do it again! You can follow along on Instagram with #BISteamretreat. 🙂

As I mentioned on Friday, I just registered for the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Women’s Conference on October 14th in Pasadena. And I’m bringing my mom with me! I can’t wait. I attended the conference Kendra and Micaela hosted back in 2015 (it was a blogging conference then) and it was such a time of personal and spiritual growth – I wrote all about it here. I am blessed to attend again this year and it’s even better since it’s open to all Catholic women.  If you are going, let me know so I can look for you there! 🙂 You can also follow along on Instagram with #stjoanconf. 🙂

 

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In the Kitchen…

I am in the process of finishing my recipe binder and doing a post about how I meal plan. Now that summer is over and homework/ after school activities season is here, I have to be more diligent about planning ahead since my afternoons are a little chaotic.

 

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Reading…

I finished these books over the summer and am almost done writing reviews:


The Lake House by Kate Morton


The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn


Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks


The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd

Watching…

(MOVIES IN THEATERS)

The Big Sick – It’s been a slow movie month for me and I was only able to see one movie, which was The Big Sick. The movie is based on the real story of how actor Kumail Nanjiani’s (playing himself) met his wife Emily. They fall in love but problems arose when their cultures clashed, as well as other issues. They broke up but then Emily became gravely ill and Kumail’s word turned upside down. He had to navigate his way through his feelings and the strained relationship with Emily’s parents and his own family. While this movie could be considered a romantic comedy, that was only part of the story. It was also a drama as Kumail struggled to define his life and what he wanted to do with it, which contradicted his strict Muslim family and their expectations. I enjoyed the movie – both the lighter comedic moments and the more dramatic thought-provoking scenes, although be cautioned that it is rated R. There is a lot of strong language and characters live a secular lifestyle, hook up and have sex, although there is no nudity or anything graphic. I rate this 3.75/4 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated R for language including some sexual references .)

 

(STREAMING MOVIES)

Lion – I really wanted to see Lion on the big screen but it wasn’t playing at my usual theater so I had to settle for watching it on Netflix. Lion is based on the memoir A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley’s. At the age of five Saroo accidental left his family when he rode a train that took him over 600 miles away from his small village to the busy and dangerous streets of Calcutta. He tried to get back home but instead found himself homeless and in danger of being taken by adults who wanted to do him harm. Eventually he found shelter in an orphanage and was adopted by a loving Australian couple. Twenty years later, Saroo remembered bits and pieces of his childhood and becomes obsessed with tracking down his family using Google Earth. I loved the movie and by the end I was literally sobbing. It was incredibly moving. There were a few slow scenes in the middle but the ending more than made up for it. One of my favorites I’ve seen in the last year. I rate it 4 out of 5. (Parental note: While your older kids may enjoy this movie, there’s a scene where homeless children on the streets are being abducted, one can assume, for evil reasons. Later an adult Saroo is shown in bed with his girlfriend. There is implied sex and kissing but nothing graphic.  Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sensuality.)

 

(TV)

Brian and I also just finished the second season of Breaking Bad and have been discussing the development and (moral decline of some characters) and how their actions affect other people. We’re looking forward to starting season 3. (Warning: This is rated MA. The network mutes out the language or blurs inappropriate things but the streaming does not. So be careful where you watch it.)

 

Did you watch the Defenders? Did you like it? Brian and I loved it!

Now we’re enjoying Endeavor.

 

(Spiritual Food Viewing)

I have been loving Beth’s #TeachableTuesdays on Blessed Is She Facebook Live on Mondays at 10:00 AM PT. I just watched her video on the Postures of Prayer and found it so helpful!

 

 

Listening to …

Added to my walking playlist…


Silver by Waxahatchee

Up All Night by Beck

The World Is on Fire by Council

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Added to my praise and worship play list. I’m still building it up so if you have a suggestion, let me know. 🙂

Alive Again by Matt Maher

 

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Recent Posts:

RevolutionofLove.com - 100 Miles in 100 Days(logo_100_miles)Progress Report: 100 Miles in 100 Days & Health Goals

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Added to My Calendar – St. Joan of Arc Catholic Women’s Conference in Pasadena, CA

From the Archives

ss_erica_1Saturday Spotlight: Erica of Be A Heart   – August 2015

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Revolution of Love - Country Potato Salad (pp_pot_salad_7)Pinterest Party & Link-up (vol 38): Country Potato Salad – August 2015

 

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Pinned…

Apple Pie Overnight Oats – 100 Days of Real Food

 

Around the blogosphere…

Here are some posts I’ve been reading…

 

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I’ve been participating in the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Challenge but I’m super behind so instead, here’s a shot of one of my favorite rosaries. 🙂


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So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any book, movie or TV show recommendations? Do share.

I’m linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

Have a great week!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – * Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Online Daybook/ Currently/ 7QT: June & July 2017 Review with Fave Movies, Books, Links and More

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • Spending time with loved ones.
  • A letter from a friend.
  • The pleasure of finishing a book and starting a new one.
  • When the fog clears and the sun shines.
  • Planting new flowers on our deck to add more color.
  • All the little things in life that I usually take for granted.

Praying for..

  • Many special intentions from family and friends, especially those carrying heavy crosses.
  • Those fighting cancer, illness and mental health issues.
  • For married couples, especially those going through difficulties.
  • For people out of work looking for a job.
  • All pregnant moms (especially family members), those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
  • The souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

As I was adding a few songs to my “listening to” category below, I thought I’d add a song outside of my usual alternative music station.

I never used to listen to Toby Mac, although he was a large figure in the Christian music scene when I was growing up. However, my boys are big fans of his music and we’re constantly listening to him when we are driving in the car. His new song Love Broke Through was a catchy tune but after a few listens I really paid attention to the lyrics.

“You loved me enough to pursue me.”

That sends chills down my back. The thought of God pursuing me is crazy. Amazing. Life changing. I mean I know it with my head but letting it take over my heart takes it to a whole other level.

I just watched the video for the first time and I wept. In life around us there is so much pain, anger and hatred and if people knew the depth of God’s love for them, it would change their lives. But sometimes the only way they will experience that love is if we show it to them. Kindness, words of hope and sacrificial acts of love are a balm to a weary soul in need of the love of Christ.

So whether it is your hubby, your roommate, your child, your neighbor or the cranky shopper in line at the grocery store, do something to remind them that God’s love is still present and alive in this world.

 

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Around the House…

You’ll find piles of library books, Ninjago legos, random soccer ball/ baseball / hockey sticks / football flags, Star Wars and super hero figures and laundry. Always so much freakin laundry. #momlife

 

Family Chit Chat…

Summer has been in full swing! Bella goes back to high school tomorrow but the boys don’t return until the last week of August. In the meantime, here are some of the things we’ve been up doing.

We went on our annual trip to Lake Tahoe. Last year my mom was prepping for cancer surgery. This year she celebrated her birthday with us!  I also spend Father’s Day with my own Daddy. 🙂 We are so, so blessed!

In June and July: Andrew celebrated the Big 10! Brian celebrated his birthday and we went on our first overnight date in 15 years! Matthew lost his first tooth. We went hiking at Point Lobos, attended the Bach Festival with the kids’ Oma. The boys went to swimming lessons and VBS. My mom and sister visited and we enjoyed a number of family movie dates! It’s been super fun but I don’t mind if things settled down a bit.

August also marks another year of Brian being cancer-free. On the 17th he has his year big testing/scan. The appointment with his oncologist in on the 22nd so hopefully we”l have the results by then. Results that I am praying is good news. Your prayers are very appreciated!!!

 

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In the Kitchen…

One of my goals this month is to make a recipe binder with our favorite meals. I need some inspiration when it comes to the weekly menu planning! What are your favorite go to recipes??

 

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Reading…

On my nightstand (the stack keeps growing!)…


The Lake House by Kate Morton


The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn


Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks


The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty


The Diplomat’s Daughter by Karin Tanabe

 

Watching…

(MOVIES)

 

Dunkirk – I have been looking forward to this movie since I saw the trailer months ago. I wanted to LOVE it. Sadly, I did not. In fact, I didn’t like it. Currently, my 10 year old is fascinated with WWII and we have been watching many documentaries together. I had a basic idea of the story behind Dunkirk and the results but someone coming into this movie without that knowledge would feel a little lost. After 15 minutes of viewing I felt like I walked into the middle of the movie. There was no background info, except for a short sentence or two before the movie started. There were entire scenes with no dialogue and we had no idea who the characters were or even what their names were. There was no character development and it felt disjointed, as if it was trying to be artsy but if just didn’t work for me. I was not the only one feeling this way since my fellow movie goers were saying the same thing, including a group of older veterans.

I thought this movie would have worked much better as a documentary, watching re-created footage of scenes of action, but as a movie, I prefer to have the opportunity to connect with characters – to know about who they are, what makes them tick, and gradually learn why they do the things they do. Not everyone will agree and there will be some who love the way this was filmed but or me personally, I didn’t like it. I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars since there were some quality scenes (the drowning of soldiers stuck inside the ship or the men who burned in the oil were heart wrenching) but there was not enough cohesion to redeem the movie in my eyes. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for intense war experience and some language. For a detailed parent review check out Common Sense Media’s review here.)

UPDATE: I read this article – Dunkirk’ Rethinks the War Movie: Historian Joshua Levine Shares His Experiences Working With Director Christopher Nolan – and I wish I had read it before I watched the movie. Had I known what to expect and went in with a different mindset, I think I would have enjoyed the movie much more. I added his book Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture to my reading list because I’d love to know more about the history leading up to Dunkirk. I’d also like to watch the movie again and see how it feels the second time around. When it comes on Blu-ray I think Andrew (my 10 year old) would enjoy watching it with me, as long as I mute out a few words and fast forward a few of the more intense parts.

Spiderman: Homecoming – I am a fan of all the Marvel superhero movies and I was eager to see what they did with Spiderman. It was a fun movie but it definitely had a different feel from the other super hero movies.  It could have been a coming of age YA movie where the character also happened to be a superhero. For some, that may be a drawback but I enjoyed it. When I watch Marvel movies in the theater, I always notice how much bad language is in it or just how violent is the violence since I usually let the boys watch it later on Blu-ray with me fast forwarding any questionable scenes or muting out the cuss words. The movie was a lot less violent and intense than other Marvel movies. There was still a lot of action and mayhem but not the usual number of body counts.  Plus, I made it through over half of the movie marveling that there weren’t many major cuss word (although there were the usual “stupid, loser, sucks…” type)  but then they threw in a handful of words, a stupid joke about porn and a flipped finger. That aside, I thought the movie was well done and a lot of fun. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments. For a detailed parent review check out Common Sense Media’s review here.)

Baby Driver – I imagine this movie to be the type that you either love or hate. I am not one who usually watches action car chase movies (I haven’t seen any of the Fast and Furious movies) however, I really enjoyed this movie. I think part of that was due to the amazing soundtrack that fit the mood of each scene. The car scenes were breathtaking, although I was praying that no teen watching this movie would try some of the vehicular feats portrayed. The characters were a little stereotypical without a lot of depth but this was more of a popcorn flick with edge of your seat action than deep character portrayals. Also, the movie is violent. There is a lot of gunfire/shootouts (including with police), some bloody deaths and rough language. So your enjoyment will depend on your tastes and what does and does not bother you. Personally, I enjoyed it and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental view: Rated R for violence and language throughout. This movie may be appealing to teens but I’d be very careful of their maturity before allowing them to view it.  For a detailed parent review check out Common Sense Media’s review here.)

Emoji Movie – Brian and I were flipping a coin to see who would have to sit through this movie with the boys. Oh, who am I kidding? I wouldn’t make Brian sit through this. Besides, I’m the parent most likely to laugh at a poop joke in a movie. (Just don’t repeat it at the dinner table, boys.) 😉 In a nutshell, it was cute and it had a few funny moments but it wasn’t anything I’d remember a day later. I rate it a narrow 3 stars out of 5. (Parental note: Rated PG for rude humor. For a detailed parent review check out Common Sense Media’s review here.)

Despicable Me – In another nutshell, this was not as good as the first movie but still an enjoyable summer movie kid flick. If you are a fan of the other DM movies then you’ll most likely like this one, especially the 80’s humor courtesy of the super villain. There is the usual cartoon action and some rude humor much like the previous movies. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG for action and rude humor. For a detailed parent review check out Common Sense Media’s review here.)

 

(TV)

Our usual shows are on hiatus until Fall so it’s time to catch up on other shows that have been on our watch list but we haven’t tried yet.

We just finished My Mother and Other Strangers . I was eager to dive into this WWII drama set in 1943 in a small village in Northern Ireland. I enjoyed watching the life of the Coyne family as their community dealt with the influx of American Air Force servicemen. I felt for the people feeling like their town was being taken over but I was rooting for the Americans who were risking their lives for others. I also had empathy for the mother/wife Rose as she tried not to get emotionally attached to another man. It was extremely disappointing when two characters who knew that what they were doing was wrong, told each other that what they were doing was wrong but instead of helping each other be strong, they gave into their desire. I just kept thinking that if a person truly loved another, they would not put their loved one’s soul in jeopardy and tempt them to do something they knew is wrong.

I happened to watch this show a few days after watching Grantchester’s Sydney and Geordie make similar mistakes in their lives. Sigh. While I understand all too well the emotions and physical desires, I still think a lot of problems would be alleviated if people learned how to keep it in their pants. (Or at least the appropriate times to indulge.)

In the meantime, I’m on the look out for another period piece drama. Has anyone watched Land Girls? I saw it advertised on Netflix and wonder if its any good.

Brian and I also just finished the first season of Breaking Bad and are starting season 2. So far we are really enjoying it. (Warning: This is rated MA. The network mutes out the language or blurs inappropriate things but the streaming does not. So be careful where you watch it.)

 

We are patiently waiting for The Defenders, which arrives on my bday August 18th. Yay!

 

Listening to …

Love Broke Through by Toby Mac

As I mentioned in “Pondering” above, this song moves me so much, especially lately.

 


Feel It Still (Live at KROQ) by Portugal. The Man

I’m still loving this song. When I need a pick me up I’ll listen to it and soon be dancing around the room. 😉


Love is Mystical by Cold War Kids.


Rhythm & Blues by The Head and the Heart

 

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Recent Posts:

My Favorite Stationary, Pens, Stickers and Planner Supplies (& A Giveaway!)

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How I Use My Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner 2017-2018

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Never Despairing and Being a Balm to the Soul

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How to Use Instagram’s Stories

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Book Reviews for 2017 (Part 2): April – June

 

From the Archives

RevolutionofLove.com - 25 Acts of Kindness for your Husband(logo_act_kindness_640)
25 Acts of Kindness for your Husband – June 2016

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Revolution of Love - Homemade Coconut Granola (logo_pp_granola_6)
Homemade Coconut Granola – July 2015
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The Top Ten Theme Songs of My Life – July 2014 [I just re-read this post and I am crying again. What is up with my (happy) tears today?!]

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Easy 5-Minute Salsa – June 2013

 

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Pinned…

Simple Calligraphy Medallion Tutorial by ThePostmanKnocks.com (I love that name!)

 

Around the blogosphere…

Here are some posts I’ve been reading…

 

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I’ve been participating in the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Challenge but I’m nearly two months behind! I am catching up by completing the categories from June.

Week 21

Soft – After a hard day of work I grab my favorite soft, red blanket, a gift I received over two decades ago before I was even married. Like a toddler with a blankie, the soft warmth soothes me, body and soul.

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Week 22

Geometric Shapes – There’s a lot of geometric shapes with these things I love to use.

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Week 23

Technical: F/8 Portrait – I’m still learning to shoot outside of auto so I had to look up how to do this. Luckily, I had a willing model (with his baby tooth hanging by a thread,) as long as I kept it really quick. I need to keep working on it to improve color tone.

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Week 24

Green: Can you spot the little green guy?

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Week 25

Toy Story: Buzz and Woody are realizing that their lives are different now that the boys prefer sports to them.

You can see my other photo challenge entries here – #rolphotochallenges.

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So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any book, movie or TV show recommendations? Do share.

I’m linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

Have a great week!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – * Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Online Daybook and 7QT: May 2017 Review of Happenings, Movies and Fave Links

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • The coming of summer vacation.
  • The teachers who taught and cared for my kids these past 10 months.
  • Family time.
  • That Brian’s cancer check testing came out clear.
  • All the little things in life that I usually take for granted.

Praying for..

  • Many special intentions from family and friends.
  • Those fighting cancer, illness and mental health issues.
  • Those living in violence.
  • For peace in the heart of all men/women.
  • All pregnant moms (especially family members), those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
  • The souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

The last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about the Holy Spirit and how often I neglect Him. Yet, when He makes his presence known, there is no ignoring Him. I don’t want my encounters with the Holy Spirit to be sporadic. I want to be open to the Spirit and go where He leads me without fear. I want my life to reflect the fruits of the Spirit and to do my small bit to bring love and mercy into my corner of the world.

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Around the House…

It is the end of the year mayhem with paper bags filled with artwork and schoolwork coming home. Just beyond that are the suitcase waiting to be packed for our annual trip to Lake Tahoe. We leave a day after the boys get out of school which means next week will be filled with end of the school activities (the boys get out late compared to the public schools) in between packing for the family. I will try hard to make it as stress free as I can but don’t hold your breath. 😉

 

Family Chit Chat…

Last year in May, Bella and I drove to So Cal to attend my sister’s baby shower. It was out first mother/daughter road trip and we had so much fun, we decided to do it again this year!

We are both love Disneyland so a day spent there together was mandatory. 😉 Then we headed to my family’s house where I had some one on one time with mi familia. (I needed it!) Unfortunatley, my parents weren’t there (they were in VA visiting my sister) but that’s okay since I’ll see them in 10 days when we go to Lake Tahoe together. Woohoo!

Here are some of the things we did this month besides the Rol girls road trip… I enjoyed a lovely Mother’s Day (John-Paul’s poem was a favorite), we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Famita, I took lots of beach walks, played with these three handsome fellas, went on a date with my Sweetie (who also was clear at his 3-month cancer check), attended a May Crowning, missed Brian while he was away for a conference and virtually connected with my Blessed is She sisters for a team meeting. (Having all of us online at once was crazy! I loved it!) 🙂

 

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In the Kitchen…

This week I have been trying to clean out the freezer so don’t be surprised if I am serving Lenten fish sticks with Cinco de Mayo tortillas. 😉

 

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Reading…

Later this (or next) week I’ll post a review of the books I read in April and May, which includes the latest one I finished.

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen (Read it for free if you have Kindle Unlimited)

 

Watching…

(MOVIES)

 

Wonder Woman – Everyone had high expectations for this movie and when it came out I cautiously looked at the Rotten Tomatoes rating to see if the critics panned it. Remarkably, it got rave reviews. I went to watch it on opening night to see if I agreed. So did I? Oh, yeah! I loooved it. Gal Gadot is a wonder to behold. Not only is she remarkably gorgeous, but she plays the character itself beautifully. She can be both strong and powerful yet (at times) naive and thoroughly empathetic. Her empathy does not hinder her but rather empowers her to be a fierce warrior for those in need. At one point, when a painful truth rocks Diana’s worldview and almost topples her, she is able to overcome as she sees the good and positive effects of sacrificial love.

The movie has it’s share of violence, being set in WWI, but I thought it less violent than some of the darker Marvel movies. I thought Chris Pine was great as the male lead and the banter added some nice touches of humor. (Next time, let’s have a little more of the secretary Edna. I loved her.) I would also have liked a little more backstory to connect better with the three friends in the story but they were lovable none the less. All in all, I loved the movie and hope to see it again soon!

I rate this  4 1/2 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content. / My note: Usual war violence but nothing graphic. There’s a shot of Chris Pine naked but he covers his man parts with his hands. A conversation about sex and marriage with lots of double meaning but may go over kids’ head. Wonder Woman and Chris Pine kiss alone in a bedroom and the camera pans away to the bedroom window so you don’t see them (or know if they) do anything more.)

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Everything, Everything – I admit that I am the age of the parents in these stories but I enjoy YA books and movies. I’ve had this book on my shelf and planned to read it first before I watched the movie. However, one evening Brian told me I should take the night off and catch a show (you don’t have to tell me twice!) and the only two movies starting at the current hour was this or Bay Watch (which I heard was raunchy and bombed at the box office) so I went to see Everything, Everything instead.

The movie is reminiscent of Fault in Our Stars, having one of the characters living with a serious illness. Basically, Maddy has a rare disease and she must live 24/7 within the confines of her hyper sterile home. In moves Olly, a sweet, misunderstood boy next door. It has all the elements of young love and themes of love conquering all, including the risk of death. Now, I’ll admit that I love sappy, romantic movies as much as the next romantic and I did enjoy the movie (and the surprise twist) but I also can’t help but watch them through a “mom lens” as well. On the one hand, I love the sweet innocence of young love blooming. On the other hand, I hate how each movie must propel the young couple into sleeping together, although at least they were 18 and not 14. It gives such a skewed one sided look at love, sex and marriage. Besides that, I found some of the details a bit beyond belief – Maddy didn’t know how to swim yet she was snorkeling and jumping off of cliffs? Um, hello? So the story was sweet and there were some funny and touching moments but there definitely should be some deeper discussions afterwards if your teen is watching it too. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief sensuality.)

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Guardians for the Galaxy, Vol 2  – When Bella and I went on our road trip, one of our nights in SoCal, we went to watch this movie with my sister in a huge movie theater and it was quite the experience. I have to be honest and say I did not love it as much as I did the first one but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. There was plenty of action and humor but there were also some tender moments when characters opened up and were vulnerable about issues they were dealing with. That said, Guardians is a little more dicey than some of the other super hero movies I let the kids watch. (Granted, I watch it with them and mute out a few cuss words.) While Guardians is basically as violent as other super hero movies, it also has more sexual undertones and more language. There are a few harder cuss word here and there but there are lots of “lesser” cuss words like – a-hole, douche bag, bastard, crap, jackass – throughout along with a few scenes (like the robot hookers) that give the movie a more mature vibe. It was okay for Bella to watch but the younger boys will have to be older to see this one. Rated 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content.)

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Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie – When the boys were younger, we avoided “potty humor” shows and books but let’s face it, there is a natural draw towards boys and potty humor. We basically can’t get through a dinner conversation without someone laughing over some ridiculous body function. Thankfully, they do not act like this with company but in the confines of our family, they feel more at ease. I’ve also eased up on my ban of Captain Underpants and allowed the boys to read some of the books. When the movie came out and they begged us to take them, I saw little harm in it but gave the job to Brian for some male bonding. Surprisingly, the boys wanted me to take them. (Was this the result of my participating in their “who can burp the loudest” contest?)  Whatever the reason, Brian laughed as he closed the door behind us on our way to the theater.

Once there, I sat down with my carefully rationed raw almonds and contraband peanut M&M’s prepared to be bored silly. Fast forward an hour into it and I was actually enjoying the story. I loved watching the brother like bond between George and Harold with their pranks that reminded me faintly of Ferris Bueller’s ability to outsmart adults and rally the people. With that said, there was plenty of potty humor – from the aptly named Professor Poopypants to the scene of the fart symphony, which had my boys in such laughing hysterics that I couldn’t stop laughing just listening to them. (Seriously, I cried off my eye makeup.) So if you are looking for an hour and a half of ridiculous low brow humor to share with your kids, this may be the ticket. (Warning, I am also the kid who used to get in trouble for burping out loud and grossing out my mom with TMI stories so my opinion may be challenged.)  I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG for mild rude humor throughout.)

 

(TV)

Our usual shows are on hiatus until Fall so it’s time to catch up on a few shows that have been on our watch list but we haven’t tried yet.

I am thinking of trying Breaking Bad. Any other suggestions?

We finally finished Netflix’s Ironfist and although there was a lull in the middle of the show it did pick up at the end. It’s our least favorite of the four superhero shows but we are still excitedly awaiting The Defenders, which arrives on my bday August 18th. Yeah, baby!

 

Listening to …

Don’t Take the Money by The Bleachers. Perfect music for a road trip along the coast. 😉

This is also on heavy rotation on my playlist…

Feels Like Summer by Weezer (The first time I heard this song I thought it was 21 Pilots.) 😉

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Recent Posts:

Blogging has been light these days.

The New Blessed Is She 2017-2018 Liturgical Academic Planner

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RevolutionofLove.com - 100 Miles in 100 Days(logo_100_miles)2nd Annual Summer Walking Challenge 2017: 100 Miles in 100 Days

You can follow along by following my Instastories and the hashtag #rol100milesin100days

It is not too late to join and adapt the challenge to your life. A big thanks to the ladies joining me! 🙂

 

 

From the Archives

ss_jenna_1Saturday Spotlight: Jenna at Call Her Happy (May 2015)

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Operation Clean & Organize (vol 19): Weekly Menu Board (Revised)  (May 2014)

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Pinterest Party & Link-up, Vol 4: Pineapple Mango Salsa (May 2013)

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Pinned…

Photot credit: Oh Sweet Basil.com

With summer weather here, I want to try this one – Easy Greek Pasta Salad.

 

Around the blogosphere…

Here are some posts I’ve been reading…

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I’ve been participating in the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Challenge and these are my photos from May so far. (I am a bit behind.)

Week 18

Artistic: Purple

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Week 19


Story: Back Yard. I’m blessed to live in a place where I’m surrounded by the beauty of the ocean, mountains and forests. God is a master Creator.

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Week 20

Technical: Sky Overlay. This is the original photo.

 I replaced the foggy sky with a clear one.

You can see my other photo challenge entries here – #rolphotochallenges.

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So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any book, movie or TV show recommendations? Do share.

I’m linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

Have a great week!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – * Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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2016 Recap (Part 2): Entertainment & Social Media Faves of the Year & Link-up

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It’s End of the Year Recap Week! Join me as we review over 2016 and share the good, the bad and the funny. Each post will be a link-up for you to share your own thoughts, memories and faves. Choose one or join them all! Here is the line up…

Monday – 2016 Recap (Part 1): 2016 in 12 Photos (hashtag #2016in12photos)

Today2016 Recap (Part 2): Entertainment & Social Media Faves of the Year

Wednesday – 2016 Recap (Part 3): Top Posts of 2016

Thursday –  2016 Recap (Part 4): Lessons God Taught Me in 2016

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I love End of the Year recap posts that review the things we loved over the past twelve months. Today’s post is a just-for-fun post with all my entertainment faves of 2016.

PLEASE NOTE – The movies, shows or music listed here are simply things I enjoy but I am not necessarily recommending to you. Everyone has their own level of what they feel comfortable watching/listening to/reading, especially my Catholic readers. If it doesn’t seem like something you would enjoy, please skip it!!

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My 5 Fave Books I Read in 2016

I logged in 30 books this year (in comparison to last year’s 12) and of my top 5 favorites, only one was published in 2016 so that gives it the #1 spot automatically.

#1

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Life memoir by Dr. Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. His words were moving and thoughtful and by the time I reached the final epilogue by his wife, I was sobbing. Read my full review here.

#2

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Gripping, edge of my seat, reading-way-too-late-in-the-night novel set in France 1939. Read my full review here.

#3

Big, Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

This was my first Moriarty book and what a page turner it was! I lost many hours of sleep trying to finish this book. Read my full review here.

#4

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

This book was also set in WWII and was riveting and heartbreaking. Read my full review here.

#5

The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman

There is a lot of heartache and no Hallmark ending but the story pulled me in and had me questioning what I wanted to happen vs what should happen. Read my full review here.

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Honorable Mention

Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay

I’ve read 3 of Katherine’s books so far and this one is my favorite. (Read my full review here.)

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My 5 Fave Movies of 2016

I have to admit that I love going to the movies but I spent years never walking into a theater when the kids were little. I just couldn’t get away or was too tired to try. But now that they are older, twice a month Brian lets me slip out of the house while he puts them to bed so I can unwind and get lost into another world for two hours.

Out of the 24 movies I watched this year, there were only a small handful that really moved me (#1-3 below.) For the 4th and 5th position I debated between a number of movies that I enjoyed (Light Between Oceans, Suicide Squad, Legend of Tarzan, Conjuring 2, Love & Friendship, Captain America, The Choice) but they weren’t “omgsh, I have to buy that when it is available so I can watch it again and again.” Since I had to choose for this post, these are my picks.

#1

hacksaw_ridge_poster

Hacksaw Ridge

This war movie was surprisingly my favorite movie of the year. Although the graphic nature isn’t for everyone, Andrew Garfield did an excellent job portraying conscientious objector Desmond Doss who saved 75 men in Okinawa without firing a single shot. Doss’ conviction, strong faith and incredible heroism was truly amazing. (Rated R for graphic war violence.)

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#2

rogue_ones

Rogue One

I am a sucker for Star Wars movies (as long as you don’t mention Jar Jar) but I had my doubts whether or not I’d like this stand alone installment. However, I was thoroughly satisfied with the story, action and heart of Rogue One. Star Wars has stolen my heart again. (Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action.)

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#3

the_jungle_book_2016 The Jungle Book

I took Andrew to see this and I think I landed out enjoying it as much (if not more) as he did. The story was captivating and the special effects were enthralling. I was completely swept into the movie and it held my attention the entire time. It went beyond what I expected from a “kids” film. (Rated PG for some sequences of scary action and peril.)

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#4

sully

Sully

I am fascinated by true stories that show characters dealing with over the top situations that would crush the average person. Are these people really above average or are they average people pushed to be great? Either way, Sully falls into that category of a seemingly regular guy accomplishing something incredible. (Rated PG-13 for some peril and brief strong language.)

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#5

?

I’m saving the #5 spot because there are still a couple more movies I’d like to see from 2016 including The Lion, Manchester by the Sea, Arrival, Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts. (For the record, I have never read or seen any of the Harry Potter books or movies. However, Bella and I decided we will be reading/seeing them over 2017. I’m looking forward to it.)

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My 5 Fave New TV Shows of 2016

 #1

masterpieceMasterpiece

Masterpiece takes the top spot because 90% of the time, I absolutely love their programing. Favorites include the final season of Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Poldark (despite my anger at that storyline), Endeavor, Home Fires, Inspector Lewis, Wallander and more.  These programs could have easily taken my top 5 spots had they all been shown in 2016.

#2

the-crown The Crown

Rivaling Masterpiece programming is The Crown. This biopic costume drama is amazing – the acting, costumes and cinematography are excellent. Definite fave.

#3

xthisisusThis Is Us

After the first episode of This Is Us, I was hooked. The show is well written, has great acting and is a constant emotional roller coaster. If you were a fan of Parenthood and don’t mind a touch of sap and moral lessons, you’d probably like this. I love it.

#4

speechless-abc-tv-series-key-art-logo-740x416Speechless

I find this quirky family show hilarious. The characters are well wounded with good qualities and faults and they deal with life’s difficulties in a humorous, honest and sometimes in an over the top irreverent way.

#5

tv_1

(Tied)

Brian and I love a good thriller/mystery type show and while Designated Survivor is not perfect, it has kept our attention as we try to figure out who you can trust. Plus, it has Kiefer Sutherland. Enough said.

American Housewife won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I can’t help but laugh at the main characters sass and sometimes flawed persona. I think I can relate to her feeling like an odd man out since I’m a plus sized chips and salsa gal living in a skinny champagne and oyster town.

Last minute update: Brian and I just started watching the The Man from the High Castle and after two episodes I am enthralled. Plus I still have to watch Stranger Things. Those two make take a Top 5 Spot. 😉

 

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My 10 Fave Songs of 2016

 


The Head and the Heart – All We Ever Knew


twenty one pilots – Heathens


Catfish and the Bottlemen – Soundcheck


Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness – Fire Escape


Green Day – Still Breathing


The Moth & The Flame – Red Flag


blink-182 – Bored To Death


The Joy Formidable – The Last Thing On My Mind


The Lumineers – Ophelia


Kaleo – Way Down We Go

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Social Media

Anyone that knows me knows I also love social media! I love to post, tweet and gram all over the place. Here are your faves of my contributions.

My Top 9 Instagram Posts

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My Most Liked Facebook Post

RevolutionofLove.com - just_write_2“Working on an upcoming Blessed Is She devotion. I love this ministry and feel honored to be a part of it. ❤️ #bissisterhood #biscontributer #projectblessed”  (May 2016)

Most Popular Pinterest Pin

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update /bujo_collage_spring_review

Well, I hoped you enjoyed that walk down memory lane. What were your faves of 2016? If you are a blogger, add your link below. (You can keep it much shorter than I did!) The link-up will be open until January 31. If you don’t blog, add your faves or recommendations I should check out in the comments. Thanks and see you back here tomorrow!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with your favorites.

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

RevolutionofLove.com - logo_year_end_enter

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-9337″ src=”http://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/logo_year_end_enter.jpg” alt=”RevolutionofLove.com – logo_year_end_enter” width=”500″ height=”333″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.

The link up will be active until January 31, 2017. Have fun! 🙂


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Online Daybook & 7 Quick Takes (8/28/15): School, Parties and Prayer

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Happy Friday!  I am linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

 

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Grateful for…

  • The kids being happy in their first week back at school.
  • Having four hours to myself each morning!
  • Getting to a better morning prayer routine.
  • A husband that works so hard for our family.
  • Kind notes from friends.
  • The necessities of life.

Praying for..

  • The grace to not waste time.
  • Those carrying heavy crosses.
  • Those who have died unexpectedly and for their families left behind.
  • An end to the fires burning in CA and WA.
  • An end to the drought.
  • All pregnant moms, those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
  • The souls in purgatory, especially family, friend and those most forgotten.
  • Some special intentions.

 

Pondering…

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This week I have been thinking about the use of my time and not wasting it. Now that the kids are back to school I have my mornings free. I have a HUGE list of To Do’s and things I need to work on but my mind is constantly going, “Squirrel!” and I jump into too many things at once and I don’t actually get much accomplished. I hate that! That is why I am such a list maker and planner user. I have been trying to order my day and get the “must do’s” done first. Even if the rest of the day gets crazy, if I at least accomplished a few of the primary things, I don’t need to sweat it.

I am working on my planner posts next week. I have my new 2015-2016 Erin Condren planner and a small traveler’s notebook. I am also updating my Household Binder and Financial binder so lots of planner posts coming up!

 

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Around the House…

I’m dividing up the house into sections to work on. This week I am working on the entry way. We finally found a system that we like to corral all the back packs, shoes and various items that accumulate in the entryway. I’ll be sharing about it in future posts. 🙂

 

Family Chit Chat…

This happened –

revolution of love - kids_8-24-15The first day of school. It’s the first (and last) year we will have all the kids together in one school! We’ve got Bella (8th), Andrew (2nd), John-Paul (K) and Matthew (Pre-K).

revolution of love - mvx_8-24-15Matthew’s first day of school in his cute little uniform. After taking this photo he said, “Okay, you can leave now, mom.” Lol. I’m glad he feels so comfortable there! (After seeing his siblings in that class he was dying for it to be his turn.)

revolution of love - jp_8-24-15The first day was also John-Paul’s birthday! He brought Star Wars graham crackers to share with his friends.

Revolution of Love - star_wars_bday_3BI had fun making the birthday sign with the help of Picmonkey. 😉

 

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revolution of love blog - od_logo_kitchen

In the Kitchen…

Revolution of Love - Homemade Coconut Granola (pp_granola_6)Everyone has been asking me when I am going to make another batch of granola so I guess that’s what I’ll be making tomorrow morning!

 

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Watching…

(At the Movies)

I haven’t been to the movies much these last couple weeks, although I did catch this one.

movie_papaertownsPaper Towns reminded me of the John Hughes movies I used to watch when I was a kid. There are many teen elements but something a little deeper too. The story is about Quentin and his childhood friend Margo. They slowly drift apart and into different social crowds in high school but he never stops having a crush on her. On night, after she breaks up with her boyfriend, she turns to Q to help her seek revenge on those who wronged her. They bond and the following day she disappears. Q follows the clues she left to find out where she went.Q’s coming of age story is better than other teen movies I’ve seen and I like that (slight spoiler alert) that there wasn’t the cliched “happy” ending. That actually made the movie for me.  I’d rate this 3 1/2 stars out of 5, Parent note: The movie is rated PG-13. It contains language, crude remarks/ behavior, implied teen sex (nothing shown), partial nudity (a guy’s behind) and a secular worldview.

 

Listening to …

The movie may not be your cup of tea but if you listen to the alternative music station then you’ll probably enjoy the Paper Town Soundtrack. I know I am loving it. The song “My Type” by Saint Motel is on it and although it’s an older song, it has been one of my favorite tracks of the summer. I dare you to listen to it and not want to dance! I’ll be listening to it in the car as I go on a lunch date with Brian this weekend! Well, only if i have on my earphone since he doesn’t like my music. He is either listening to chant or The Clash. My sweet paradoxical man is just my type. 😉

 

Reading…

These are on my nightstand now.

I have not been reading lately since by the evening I am so exhausted I fall asleep after a few sentences. Now that I have more free time to work in the morn, I hope to remedy that because I downloaded a bunch of books on my Kindle thanks to the Kindle deals I found over at ModernMrsDarcy.com. There are some great titles listed!

 

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Here are my posts from the last two week’s:

Revolution of Love - Be A Heart Giveaway & interview with Erica Tighe (ss_erica_giveaway)There is still time to join the “Be a Heart” Giveaway! It ends next weekend. 🙂

 

 

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In the blogosphere…

 

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I shot this one with my phone on my morning walk.

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So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Do share.

Have a great weekend!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads Letterboxd, Spotify or Instagram. 😉

PPS – This post contains affiliate links.