Dryer balls and multi-surface cleaner

One of the things I would like to do when we move is try to have a greener house. In a way because I want to use less chemicals, and in part because making my own cleaning solutions can save money, and saving money is a good thing. So the first things that we are trying are dryer balls. All dryer balls are, is wool wrapped up into a ball and felted so that they don't come apart. They take the place of the dyer sheets to help with static and supposedly help reduce the amount of time it takes to dry loads. So far it does seem like they help with the drying time, which is awesome. Static isn't an issue at this point because of the season/humidity so I'll have to try to remember to make note of that once the colder weather sets in.

The other thing I'm trying is a natural multi-surface cleaner that I also have seen all over pinterest, as well as in multiple books of mine. All it is, is white vinegar, the peels from two lemons and about a teaspoon of rosemary and you let it sit for a week and a half to two weeks. To use it you mix it half and half with water. We'll be using this after we close so that we can clean the house before we move in. I'll have to report how it does.

Book Review: This Dark Endeavor

There will most likely be a decent number of book reviews on this blog. Reading books is kinda my job and a lot of them will be YA and Juvenile books- because that is my department within the library. So here is the first of what I'm sure will be many.

I originally picked up This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel (author of Airborn) because it was nominated for our Cafe Book program. Cafe Book is a program where librarians go to local middle schools during lunch breaks and the members of the Cafe Book group meet in the library to eat their lunch and discuss the selected books. My new job includes doing the behind the scenes work for this program which means that I was able to read the books and take part in the discussions during the selection committee meetings. This Dark Endeavor is the last of these books that I read. Ok, I listened to the audiobook, but it still counts and it was amazing. I ended up sitting in the car once I pulled into the driveway because I wanted to find out what happened next. Even with one of the committee members kind of ruining the ending for me, I still HAD to finish listening to it because I needed to know HOW it got to that ending. This is definitely a story that succeeded in sucking me in, but I guess you want to know what the story is actually about...

This Dark Endeavor  is the first book in what I imagine will be a series about the apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. That is correct, the Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelly's famous novel. It tells the story of how Victor turned to the study of alchemy, and I'm sure eventually human bodies and medicine, but this particular story is mostly about alchemy. I don't really want to go into more detail because I"m afraid that I will get carried away and end up spoiling the story for you, as it is some of what I say next might turn you off to the story, but I beg of you, despite how it might read as I write about it, give this book a chance.

It is pretty rare for me to say that there is something for everyone in a young adult novel. If you like romances, there is romance. If you like action and suspense, there is certainly that too. If you like stories that have a touch of reality, this story has that as well, specifically in the relationship between Victor and his twin brother, Conrad and Victor's irritation with having to follow his parents rules when he thinks he knows best (like so many teenagers think they do). If you like elements of fantasy, this book has that. Like I said, there really is something for everyone in this story. However, be prepared to be frustrated at the ending, because it is a frustrating ending. If you absolutely, positively, CANNOT stand to read a book that doesn't end with happily-ever-after, you probably shouldn't read this book- but then again, I normally say I can't stand non-happy endings but I simply adored this book and am looking forward to any future additions to this series.

This book made it into the Cafe Book final selections for the 2012-2013 school year program and I can certainly see why. If you aren't a "reader", try the audio book. Heck, even if you think you might HATE this book, try it, you might be surprised.

~)O(~ Elfie~)O(~

Welcome to the Craziness

Hello! Welcome to our blog! I can't really tell you what all you might see on this blog, but chances are good it will be about motorcycles, books, the house we are in the process of buying and anything else we feel like writing about at the moment. We decided to start the blog to help keep our friends who do not live close to us, or that we don't talk to on a daily basis, informed of what is going on in our lives. I decided that today would be a wonderful day to write our first post for this blog because it is our 4th wedding anniversary. We've been excited about today for about a while because not only was it our anniversary, we were going to go to our favorite restaurant at Tyson's Corner mall : Seasons 52. It is a restaurant that focuses on locally bought food and therefore it's menu changes with the season, and often week to week. This was my second time going, it was Superman's third time. Tonight, we shared a Portabella mushroom flatbread that had a truffle sour cream on it. I had caramelized grilled sea scallops as my entree and Superman had Filet Mignon. For dessert we each had one of their specialty "shooters" (mini-desserts), I had a raspberry cannelloni one and he had a blueberry cheesecake one. Dinner was amazing. But honestly, one of the best parts of the whole evening (aside from being able to spend time with Superman) was the vase of flowers that were waiting for me when we were seated.

Aren't they GORGEOUS? I love the colors. 

So there you go, welcome to our blog, prepare to hear A LOT about our house and the frustrations of the house buying process.

~)O(~ Elfie ~)O(