Chcik Lit Plus Book Review

February 19, 2014 latchkeymom

Lost Lake

By Sarah Addison Allen

A Book Review by Allie Smith

In the aftermath of her husband’s death, Kate’s grief has caused her to sleepwalk through life. While she grieves, Kate’s controlling mother-in-law, Cricket, helps care for her daughter, Devon. When her grief begins to subside and she “wakes up,” Kate discovers that Cricket has taken over her life. Cricket has sold Kate’s house and business and enrolled Devon in private school. While packing up, in preparation to move into Cricket’s home, Kate discovers a long lost postcard from her Great Aunt Eby. Kate and Devon impulsively decide to visit Eby at Lost Lake, GA, where Kate had experienced her “last best summer” when she was twelve. Continue Reading at Chick Lit Plus…

Personal, Travel

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2014 latchkeymom

5 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day

The kids and I are probably on the road as you read this. The snow week sucked and I had to get out of the house. Birmingham, AL and Jackson, MS sound like heaven as I write this! Fingers crossed that the roads are ready for our departure.

I like Valentine’s Day. “Thomas” (feels so weird using his alias) always makes it special. We are officially celebrating on Sunday, as I’ve decided to leave for our mini-road trip on Friday, instead of Saturday. We never go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day, because it’s too crazy. We tried for a pre-Valentines getaway in the city earlier this week, but it was cut short due to the dire warnings of the local news and weather forecast. We did get snow and ice, but honestly, we could have stayed for our second night. Of course if we had, something disastrous would have happened! It was along week with the kids, but we’re all ready for an adventure!

What are you Valentine’s Day plans? Do you do a couples thing, or hang with the family? Do you venture out, or stay in? Candy for the kids or presents?

Everything Else, Parenting

Chronicles of a Smith Family Snow Day

February 13, 2014 latchkeymom

9 Comments

Mom woke up at 7a.m., after a rough night of sleep. I have a sinus infection/cold and the ice pelting our bedroom chimney all night didn’t help me sleep well. As I was brushing my teeth, I heard a door slam, so I went to investigate. “Thomas” (a.k.a. my husband) was bundling Audrey and Cammy up in the Ranger, for a ride in the snow. I was thinking to myself, you’ve got to be kidding me. Its freezing and they’re insane. Continue reading Chronicles of a Smith Family Snow Day →

Entertainment

Archived

February 11, 2014 latchkeymom

8 Comments

“I feel the need…the need for speed.”

When I hear the theme song for Top Gun, I swear my adrenaline starts pumping. Last night, Thomas (the new name of my husband, after Mr. Magnum P.I., who insisted he is NOT to be named in this blog) and I were flipping channels and saw that Top Gun was on, so we decided to watch it. Neither of us had seen it in years. The movie is iconic, especially if you’re a child of the 1980’s. I remember precisely when I saw it for the first time at the Pavilion Movie Theater, May of 1986. I saw it with Laurie Dwyer. Soon after seeing the movie, I left to spend six weeks in Long Beach, California with the Raggee family. Long Beach looked a lot like Miramar in the movie, so I thought I was all that. Whenever I’d hear the Berlin song “Take Your Breath Away,” which was often because they played it on the radio constantly, I’d dream about Tom Cruise. Disclaimer – I was 15! I assure you, I have not even remotely entertained such thoughts about Mr. Cruise in decades. Continue reading Archived →