Category: Features

Friday Five (4)

Posted February 12, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Lots of things to catch up on but this week’s Friday Five are very random things on my brain right now.

[1] Brenna and Cheridan are Pioneer League Champs again.

Last night was the last League game and North played against South. I didn’t attend this game because let’s be real here…it wasn’t going to be an exciting game. I knew that they were going to win this game and they did…61-46. Congratulations to the North High Girls Basketball Team for going 20-0 in League play for the last two seasons. GO SAXONS!

[2] Makenna is a Bay League Champ again.

This was the game that I went to last night. It was rivals night and we were the visiting team. For some reason, it’s always a hard battle when Redondo plays Costa. Maybe it’s the rivalry at play or something because this game could have gone either way throughout the entire game. Redondo was down by 10 late in the game and I was nervous as shit but during gut check time, Redondo pulled it together and got that W that clinched the League Championship for them. Ken played well and made my night when she walked out of the gym, flipping Costa off. She hates that school just as much as I do so this win was freaking fantastic!

[3] Gilmore Girls Reunion.

Gilmore Girls Reunion show is a go and most all of Rory’s ex-boyfriends are on board to return. This makes me so freaking excited! Team Logan…seriously.

[4] Rugby 7’s Tournament in Vegas.

I have made plans to go to Vegas this year for the 7’s Rugby Tournament and this is the main reason why:

I can’t wait!

[5] Lakers New Coach Rumors.

I’m hearing a bunch of rumors and theories on where the Lakers coaching for next year is going and I’m so ready for a coaching change. As much as I loved Byron Scott as a player, I don’t love him so much as a coach. I don’t think he has the right pieces to run the game that he wants to run and because he won’t run the kind of offense and defense fit for the team he has, we suck. On the other hand, if Luke were to come here and run the same kind of game that he ran with Golden State, I think we’d have better success but we have a lot of young players so would he be able to lead and guide and grow these kids? I don’t know that I have that kind of faith in him…but whatever changes next year, I hope it’s the coach and not the team. I hope we keep our core players. I’m high key tired of losing.

Until next week…have a great weekend guys!

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Tags: Family, Friday Five, Gilmore Girls, IRB Rugby 7's, Lakers, My TV Shows, Team Wilson Gang

Book Club: The Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy

Posted February 10, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Our first actual book club meeting of the year kicked off this week and I couldn’t have been more excited. We were discussing three books since all three of us read them all and I was in charge of the discussion.

This month, we were discussing the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
The Score by Elle Kennedy

I came prepared to discuss the delicious-ness of the heroes of all three books but we were able to have an in depth discussion of what worked for us and what didn’t work for us. It was great! This was probably my favorite book club meeting that we’ve had in a long time. We laughed, we ate and we talked books.

We went to a sports bar and grill (Buffalo Wild Wings at the Carson Mall) to keep in theme with our books and while the setting was great, the food freaking sucked. My boneless wings were dry af, our french fries were cold and so was our dessert that we all shared. Nothing about my eating experience that night made me want to return to that place so I probably won’t ever go back.

Here are some awards we gave out last night:

Most Bangable Hero: Dean DiLaurentis from The Score
Favorite Hero: Garrett Graham from The Deal
Favorite Heroine: Allie Hayes from The Score
Favorite Book: The Deal (2), The Score (1)

Most Memorable Scene from The Deal: Graham waits Hannah out at the diner (1), Graham helps Hannah overcome personal issue (1) and when Hannah finds out what Graham did to all the guys on the campus while they were on a break (1).
Most Memorable Scene from The Mistake: Grace’s I Love You scene (1), Logan’s I Love You Scene (1) and the cafeteria scene when Logan kisses Grace in front of everyone (1).
Most Memorable Scene from The Score: The bathtub scene, the scene in New York where Dean and Allie thought Beau was sleeping and when Hannah and Garrett find out about Dean and Allie (after Sean left).

All in all, we had a great night and if Brenna had come with me to my book club meeting this time around, she wouldn’t have said, “Mom, you guys didn’t have talk about the book!” Haha.

Excuse the fuzziness of the picture but well, here’s our book bunch!

Next month’s book discussion will be on Once and Always by Judith McNaught.

Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin…the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought after at plays, operas, and balls by London’s most fashionable ladies, Jason remained a mystery to Victoria. Bewildered by his arrogant demeanor, yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she came to sense the searingly painful memories that smoldered in the depths of his jade-green eyes.

Unable to resist her spitfire charm, Jason gathered her at last into his powerful arms, ravishing her lips with his kisses, arousing in her a sweet, insistent hunger. Wed in desire, they were enfolded in a fierce, consuming joy, free at last from the past’s cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of blinding anguish, Victoria discovered the shocking treachery that lay at the heart of their love…a love she had dreamed would triumph…Once And Always.

Should be interesting…and I can’t wait!

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Tags: Book Club, Books, Elle Kennedy, Off Campus Series

Good Eats: Great Maple

Posted February 9, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Great Maple
21434 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA
Hours of Operation: M-F 11am – 10pm; Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 9am – 9pm
Daytime Menu | Brunch Menu | Dinner Menu

So one of the things that I promised myself I would do this year was get out more. Try new things and just get out of my house. I spent a lot of time last year at home watching my shows, reading and watching movies but not this year. This year is going to be the year that I start doing things. I’m going to try new restaurants, go to concerts and just have fun again.

I’m fortunate to have friends that will go wherever I drag them and last month, I was lucky that my friend had a birthday so that we can tick a new restaurant off our something new to try list.

Mulu’s birthday was last month and we got a group together to celebrate her special day with breakfast at the new Great Maple restaurant at Del Amo Mall. I hadn’t ever been and to be honest, I never heard of it before Hanah brought it to our attention. Thank goodness for Hanah cause without her, we would have celebrated Mulu’s birthday at IHop. LOL.

Happy Birthday Mulu!

We tried a little bit of everything and everything that we tried was great.

We started with an order of the Maple Bacon Donuts.

These doughnuts were delicious. The doughnuts itself were light and fluffy and with the maple syrup, powdered sugar and bacon bits, the flavor factor skyrocketed and it totally rocked my socks. Loved these.

Next up, we tried the GM Brioche French Toast Logs. Look at those suckers. They were pretty big french toast logs and to say that they were delicious is putting it mildly. I could have happily ate these things all day long. The bread had the perfect amount of crispiness on the outside and softness on the inside. The syrup and the bacon bits? Only added to the greatness that were these french toast logs. I’m a fan.

Last up, I had the Hardwood Smoked Bacon Scramble Melt to round out our breakfast and while it wasn’t my favorite part of the meal, it was still delicious. I loved the eggs, the freshness of the ingredients and the potatoes were fabulous too.

All in all, I had a great experience at the Great Maple. The waitstaff were friendly and informative (they answered all of our questions with a smile on their face) and our food was promptly delivered so really, I have no complaints. It was a little fancier than what I’m used to but that’s a good thing. Haha.

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Tags: Breakfast, Good Eats

Week in Books (10)

Posted February 8, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Tonight is book club night and I’m stoked to be discussing the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy. Initially, it was decided that The Mistake was going to be our discussion book but every single person in my book club (granted there are only three of us, haha) read the entire series so we’ll be discussing all three books. Woot! 2016 is off to a great start for me. 🙂

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patrcia Briggs

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either…

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything…

I’m back in action on this series and so far, this book is shaping out to be another good read. This world is just so freaking interesting.

Unraveled (Woodlands #3) by Jen Frederick | 4 out of 5
Unrequited (Woodlands #4) by Jen Frederick | 4 out of 5

I am so on board with this series. Jen Frederick is shipping up to be my Elle Kennedy of 2015. I read so many books by Elle Kennedy last year and this year so far, I haven’t been able to stop reading Jen Frederick. She’s writing my kind of books right now and I’ve got my fingers crossed that it doesn’t stop. I’m really enjoying everything that I’m reading by her.

Midnight Revenge (Killer Instincts #7) by Elle Kennedy
Midnight Captive (Killer Instincts #6) by Elle Kennedy
Alpha & Omega (Alpha & Omega #.50) by Patricia Briggs

Sweet Seduction by Daire St. Denis

I signed up for a blog tour featuring this book as it sounds like a cute read so I got this for review.

P.S. You’re Mine by Alexa Riley

I’ve been hearing good things about this short story so I’m all about it.

There you have it, my week in books. How did your week go?

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Tags: Books, The Weekly Recap, Week in Books, Week in Review

Week in Books (9)

Posted February 3, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

This week’s post is coming a little later than normal since I was sick as a dog over the weekend and called in sick on Monday to rest up then yesterday was spent catching up on everything that wasn’t done on Monday so here we are.

Unraveled (Woodlands #3) by Jen Frederick

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

I’m on a Jen Frederick high. I want to read everything I can get my hands on by her right now. I’m going to start by finishing the Woodlands series and then I’ll see what I’m in the mood for after that. Probably Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh or Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs. One of those.

Jock Blocked (Gridiron #2) by Jen Frederick | 4.75 out of 5
The Charlotte Chronicles (Jackson Boys #1) by Jen Frederick | 4 out of 5
Before I Fall (Falling #1) by Jessica Scott | 4 out of 5
Appealed (Legal Briefs #3) by Emma Chase | 4.5 out of 5
Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1) by Lauren Layne | 4.25 out of 5

My favorite read of the week is hands down Jock Blocked by Jen Frederick. What a good book that was. I loved the romance, the conflict, everything. So freaking good! I didn’t have a least favorite book. I liked all the books I read last week so it was a good reading week for sure!