Orange Julius Recipe

The sun is out! This wouldn't typically be news here in Hawaii, but it's been dreary and gloomy and rainy for the past several days. We don't have seasons in Hawaii, but it suddenly feels kind of like the beginning of spring does in a regular place -- the pleasure of the warm sunshine on your face, admiring the flowers for sale at Lowes or Home Depot, wearing shorts for the first time after months in pants. I was in such a springtime mood -- so much so that "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles is playing on repeat in my head -- that I just had to whip up a cool drink for myself this afternoon.

I absolutely love homemade Orange Juliuses, and after I learned the easy recipe I've never really gone back to buying them at the mall. The best thing about making these refreshing half-smoothie, half-drink beverages at home is that they're fully customizable. You control the consistency, the sweetness, the orange component, and you can add in whatever else you want -- a banana, some frozen mango pieces, whatever strikes your fancy.

P.S. I just want to let you know that we were drinking out of Mason jars long before Pinterest made it fashionable! After we moved in together, my husband's mom gave us a bunch of amazingly delicious canned green beans and dill pickles. Jarrod -- who is very Southern indeed --insisted we use the empty Mason jars as glasses and I loved the idea -- so quaint, and FREE! Now, though, I see Mason jars everywhere. Guess the secret is out!

Homemade Orange Julius

Serves 2

3-4 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate (just eyeball it)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4ish cup sugar (to taste)

8 to 12 ice cubes (depending on desired thickness)

Put everything in a blender and give it a whirl. You're now the proud owner of two better-than-mall-quality Orange Juliuses!

Book Review: "Then Came You"

"Then Came You" by Jennifer Weiner
First published in 2011
My rating: 4 out of 5

I tried to read one of Jennifer Weiner's books when I was in late high school, or maybe early college. And I did something I seldom do -- I put it down because I just couldn't get into it. Now I'm 26 and, after reading a couple more of Jennifer's books in the last few years, I understand perfectly what the problem was. These novels are about women, for women, and dealing -- with an enviable finesse -- with all the myriad issues women face today, right now in 2012. The keyword here is women. I was a girl when I attempted my first Jennifer Weiner novel, and the themes and plot just didn't apply to me.

"Then Came You" deals with the delicate issue of babies -- particularly, egg donation and surragacy -- and we become intimately acquainted with the four women invovled in the making of one baby. There's Jules, the Princeton senior who donated her eggs so she could use the money to send her addict father to rehab. Annie, the surrogate who will be carrying and delivering the baby, is a young housewife and mother who feels her life lacks both purpose and financial stability. India is a PR executive with a mysterious past who marries a super-wealthy older man, Marcus Croft. After several failed in vitro attempts, the couple decides to go the egg donor/surragacy route. And Bettina is Marcus's 20-something daughter. She's convinced India is a gold digger with her eyes on Marcus's fortune and sets out to uncover the secrets of India's past.

Each of the four women in the novel is completely different from the others. They have totally different lives, backgrounds and socio-economic classes. But they're all connected to the baby, and they all have issues that they're dealing with, mental roadblocks that they're trying to overcome. Together, they make a masterful portrait of America's women.

Happy reading!

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Book Review: "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella"

"The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" by Stephenie Meyer
First published in 2010
My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Spending a couple hours reading "TSSLOBT" would be worth it for any Twilight Saga fan, even though it's not anywhere close to the four main novels in writing style, plot caliber or character development. But it's a good supplementary piece that gives a newborn vampire's perspective to "Eclipse."

Bree Tanner is one of the army of the newborn vampires created by Riley and Victoria for their attack against the Cullens. She's suspicious of Riley's motives, but there's really no mystery involved because the reader already knows what Riley's up to, the outcome of the battle is, and Bree's ultimate fate. It's nice to have a little backstory on Bree, whom we meet briefly in "Eclipse," but since it's just a novella there's not enough to make us really feel invested in her as a character.

The ideal time to read "TSSLOBT" would be during a re-read of the entire series, directly after reading "Eclipse." Reading it on its own was ok, but the novella would definitely have more of an impact on the reader if picked up at the right time. Happy reading!

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Book Review: "1Q84"

"1Q84" by Haruki Murakami
First published in 2011
My rating: 3 out of 5

Japanese author Haruki Murakami's "1Q84" is one of the most bizzare books I've ever read. It features strange and wondrous things, like the pivotal apperance of not one but two moons hanging in the sky. It's also one of the most meticulously plotted and choreographed books I've ever read. Even the location of the page numbers has been thought out.

The novel takes place in Tokyo in 1984 -- or rather, an alternate Tokyo in "1Q84." The characters gradually realize they've been transported to the year 1Q84, where there are subtle changes from 1984 and where events often defy rational thinking. Why are they there? How did they get there? Who are the mysterious Little People they (and we) keep hearing about?

The novel has two protagonists -- Aomame, a 30-year-old female fitness instructor with a surprising private life, and Tengo, a 30-year old male math teacher and aspiring novelist. They're on separate paths in the 1Q84 world, but those paths are destined to come together in spite of -- or maybe because of -- the trials, heartbreak and illogical happenings they must first endure. Things begin to take a turn for the weird when Tengo's editor asks him to do a ghost re-write of a gripping, fantastical but awkwardly written novel submitted for a literary competition. As soon as the author, a beautiful, ethereal 17-year-old girl named Fuka-Eri, appears in Tengo's life, things begin to sprial out of control.

Murakami has a very distinct writing style. In a nice contrast to the intricacy of the plot, his sentences and word choice are clear, concise and simple. But the writing itself is often slow moving, repetitive and full of so much non-critical information that it becomes hard to read at times. It took about 250 pages for me to become invested enough in the story to read the novel through to the end no matter how much I didn't want to. I did quite a bit of skimming through the sometimes monotonous writing, but that can risky because the big reveals of critical plot points are occasionally buried in long paragraphs of character background information or soul-searching.

I didn't really enjoy "1Q84," but the plot was so unique, so outlandish that I had to keep reading (i.e. skimming) to the end. I nicknamed it "the brick" -- and at over 900 pages it probably weighs just as much or more than a brick! If you don't have endless free time on your hands, I'd recommend passing on "1Q84." Unfortunately, double the moons means double the length, but not necessarily double the pleasure.

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Book Review: "Love in a Nutshell"

"Love in a Nutshell" by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
First published in 2012
My rating: 3.5 out of 5

It's very fitting that I'm finally getting around to reviewing "Love in a Nutshell" on Valentine's Day because it's the perfect book for the holiday of love -- a cutesy romance with a bit of humor and mystery thrown in for good measure. Basically it follows the same format as most of Janet Evanovich's other novels. I found, though, that the writing style in "Nutshell" wasn't quite up to par with Janet's typical firecracker wit, and I can only imagine that it's because she co-wrote the book with another author (Dorien Kelly, whose books I've never read or, to be quite honest, seen. Have you?).

Despite the slightly lackluster writing, the story was still fun, cute, quick and easy. The main character, Kate Appleton, has just moved into her family's dilapidated summer home in a small tourst town on the shores of Lake Michigan. Kate's had bad luck in love and life and hopes to turn things around by transforming the cottage into a B&B. Unfortuantely for Kate, she's behind on her mortgage payments, the house is quickly becoming a money pit, and she's just lost her bartending job because of some faulty beer. Kate does the only thing she can think of and puts on her determined face, marches into the local brewing company whose beer got her fired, and demands a job.

Enter hot-stuff eligible bachelor Matt Culhane, owner of the brewpub, who's having a problem of his own -- someone is out to sabotage the brewery and Matt fears it might be one of his own employees. Equally intrigued and mystified by Kate, Matt hires her to flesh out the sabouteur in exchange for $20,000 -- enough money to pay Kate's debts on the house. As the danger builds, so does the chemistry between Matt and Kate.

Bonus: You'll learn some interesting tidbits about brewing beer!

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WIWW: A Week Of Boots

Aloha friends, and thanks for stopping by this wonderful Wednesday! This has been a crazy week for me, between trying to spend as much time as possible with the hubby before he leaves for Afghanistan and starting my new job at the base library. I've only been at the library for a week, but I really get the feeling that I'm going to enjoy it once I get settled in. There's just something about being surrounded by books and book-lovers that feels comfortable.

On to the outfits! This week I decided to wear my boots as much as possible. After I discovered that it was just too darn hot to wear them out during the day, they got shoved toward the back of the closet. Not this week, though! I love all the boots + skinnies looks I see on WIWW every Wednesday and I was more than happy to join the crowd this week. Since Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy is on vacation this week, I'm linking up for the first time with Momma Go Round.

This aspen leaf necklace is my favorite piece of jewelry.

We went to a fancy-pants awards dinner on Friday night, at which my wonderful husband was selected as Officer of the Year! I was so proud, and it was fun to see him get dressed up in his Air Force mess dress. (This is the closest I'll ever get to seeing him in a suit.)

We love Thai food, and one thing that's great about Hawaii is that there are probably just as many Thai places as Starbucks -- literally one on every corner! When we eat at a Thai restaurant, I indulge in a Thai iced tea (that's the orange conocotion I'm drinking in the picture). Soooo good, and a perfect foil to the spicy pad Thai I always order.

This is my favorite outfit for the week. I love the color of this top! (And yes, I wore the same pair of jeans three times this week.)

Knitting: Recent FOs

I've been busy knitting lately and I'm excited to share some of my recent finished objects with you! If you're a fellow knitter (or crocheter -- a craft I'm determined to learn one of these days), you can find me on Ravelry at knittinglindsay.

Ravelry pattern: Basic Ribbed Socks by Kate Atherley

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet, colorway 27

I'm happy to say I can cross something off my list of New Year's resolutions. Knit my first pair of socks -- check! My knitting and blogging buddy Veronica (visit her blog here) sent me this sock yarn for Christmas and it was the motivation I needed to finally attempt sock knitting. Which, as it happens, was waaay easier than I thought it would be.

Ravelry pattern: Saroyan by Liz Abinante

Yarn: Malabrigo merino worsted, colorway Stone Blue

My mom's birthday is in early January and I knit her this gorgeous (if I do say so myself) scarf from creamy blue Malabrigo. Incidentally, I'm wearing the shirt and earrings my mom got me for Christmas in this picture.

Ravelry pattern: Tuesday Night Cowl by Susan Lawrence

Yarn: Malabrigo merino worsted, colorway Dusty

This cowl was a Christmas gift for my best friend Katie. It was the first time I ever knit with Malabrigo and now I'm hooked! Not only was the yarn soooo soft and such a pleasure to knit with, I'm in love with this pretty pink color. I have another skein and plan to knit something for myself with it. (P.S. I wanted to wear some sort of jacket to model this cowl so it didn't look silly with a short-sleeved shirt, and apparently this is the only real jacket I brought to Hawaii with me. And then I rememebered why I only brought one jacket -- about 30 seconds into picture-taking I was sweating like a pig.)