Book Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

03 Dec

Erin Shanendoah |  December 3rd,2012 | Authors & Books |  Comments Off

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is the first book in a series. Based on it, I  intend to pick up the next book.

This is the story of Kvothe, as told by Kvothe. He is an exceptional man whose life has already reached legendary status, despite the fact that he is only 30 or so years old.

The book is exceptionally well written, and reads as if it were a much shorter book. The story is fast paced and keeps the reader “listening” to the tale with as much anticipation as those hearing it in the book.

Blog Feature: Creating a Passive Income

01 Dec

Erin Shanendoah |  December 1st,2012 | blogging, Finances, Writing |  Comments Off

Have you ever wanted to be able to sit around all day doing nothing and still have money rolling in? Even if you weren’t born with a trust fund, it is possible to make your money work for you, and not the other way around, though it may require some hard work for you at first.

Over at Creating a Passive Income, Derek and his staff writers are always looking at new ways you could be earning money without doing much of anything, once the initial investment of time and money has been made. This week, they investigated publishing royalties.

Your Money Friday: Food Spending

30 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 30th,2012 | Budgeting, Finances, Food |  Comments Off

It’s the end of the year, time to review your 2012 budget and create a new one for 2013. Isn’t it exciting? How has your tracking been going? Do you know what you spent this year? Or do you at least know what you spend on food?

This week’s thread is about grocery and restaurant expenditures. We know what people spend can vary based on family size and cost of living in their area, but it also depends on what they count as groceries (dog food, paper towels), and what they mean when they say “we don’t eat out much”.

Movie Review: Brave

29 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 29th,2012 | Movies |  Comments Off

We finally saw Brave the night before Thanksgiving. What can I say? A Disney Princess movie that does not end in marriage- what is the world coming to?  AND there was an actual mother in the movie- not a wicked step-mother, but a loving mother. In the past, only Disney animal movies have been allowed these things. It’s like my childhood has been completely upended, and I am thrilled.

I loved bothMeridaand her mother. I loved that the central love story was the one between parent and child, especially in a movie that’s aimed at, you know, children.

The Voice s3 Top 8 Eliminations

28 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 28th,2012 | Music, Television |  Comments Off

The moment they mentioned that Terry had hit number one on the iTunes rock charts, I knew he wasn’t going home. Dez did, and so did Cody, finally. I have mixed feelings about Cody going home now. Considering I’ve thought he needed to go home a number of times before this, it was time. But I do feel bad about it happening after what was a really good performance of a difficult song.

Melanie remains the last of the coach’s saves standing, and she’s been killing it, as has Cassadee- someone I didn’t even think would make the top 12.

The Voice s3 Top 8

27 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 27th,2012 | Music, Television |  Comments Off

Last night’s live performances were not as solid as they were a week ago, but it’s still hard to determine who’s going home. Cody, who you know hasn’t been my favorite, turned in a really good performance- of a Queen song no less. Amanda rocked the opening performance. Nicholas continues to rule in his wheelhouse. Cassadee and Melanie were both very strong.

Dez had the worse performance of the night (goodbye Team Christina?). Trevin wasn’t strong, and Terry’s beginning to feel like a one trick pony (all his performances sound the same). My guesses for going home- Dez and Terry.

MythBusters: Explosions A to Z

26 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 26th,2012 | Mythbusters, Science, Technology, Television |  Comments Off

Need to shoot a MythBusters episode with no new content and no Adam and Jamie for filming but still want to make the fans happy? Enter a show all about explosions. I don’t mind retrospective shows; after all, we might be starting to run low on urban myths, especially urban myths involving explosions of the type MythBusters fans have come to know and love. I did have one problem with the episode- where was the exploding water heater?! Maybe they consider it more a rocket, but still, if you’re talking fan favorites, how do you leave out the water heater?

Blog Feature: You Did What With Your Weiner

24 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 24th,2012 | blogging, Dogs, Pets, Writing |  Comments Off

We judge people by their dogs. We think differently about a woman with a Chihuahuathan one with a Lab. A guy with a Pit Bull is very different, at least in our minds, than the guy with a Border Collie. If you have small dogs, there are lots of things people think you can’t do with your dog. At You Did What With Your Weiner, they are working on proving those expectations false, doing their best to prove that even little dogs can have big adventures.

In fact, on Thanksgiving, they were out hiking snow covered mountains, mini-Dachshunds included.

Your Money Friday: Financially Thankful

23 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 23rd,2012 | Finances, Healthcare |  Comments Off

It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, and over at Your Money today, we’re talking about what we have been thankful for, financially, in the last year.

For most of us, it’s decent jobs for ourselves and loved ones, having insurance or remaining healthy, the ability to save to give us more options in the future, and have a spouse or significant other who is on the same page financially.

We often think about the “trouble” money can cause, especially in relationships, but there really is just as much to be thankful for, when you take a moment to think about it.

Movie Review: Skyfall

22 Nov

Erin Shanendoah |  November 22nd,2012 | Movies |  Comments Off

I know, I am reviewing a movie while it’s still in theaters; it’s a Thanksgiving day miracle.

First off, I think in Daniel Craig, Sean Connery finally has some real competition in the sexiest Bond every category.

Skyfall was a really enjoyable movie. Yes, it’s a little darker than most Bond films, but all the Craig Bond movies have been. It felt very much in line with where Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace had been taking us.

Judi Dench as M was, as always, wonderful.

And the little bits of tribute to the “old” Bond days were mostly charming.

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