Tag: Nasty Crew

The Monthly Recap: July 2018

Posted August 7, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

What I Did

Family pictures: My month started off with family pictures on the beach in Redondo Beach. I thought it was going to take much longer than it actually took. There are 9 of us and we all have hella kids between us but we were done within 3 hours. We almost made it through the entire shoot without any issues but then little Caleb fell into the ocean with his cast so between his family pictures and the rest of our big family pictures that we took a couple of hours later, his shorts are 8 shades darker but he’s still a cutie patootie.

The picture above is one with just my siblings and my Pops. We’re missing my sister Ingrid but everyone else is there and I really like this one.

Here’s a picture from me and Brenna’s shots. It’s my favorite. I love the background with the Palos Verdes cliffs, it’s a gorgeous shot.

David’s Funeral: My month ended with a funeral for one of my good friends David. He suffered from depression and struggled with it for a while. I’m going to miss him but am glad that he’s finally at peace. It was really good to see everyone that came out to pay their respects. Lots and lots of our friends from Church came out, which was nice because everyone is so spread out. We have people in Utah, Arizona, all parts of California but everyone came home to say their final goodbyes to David and that made me happy for him.

What I Read

1. Coming Undone (Brown Family #2) by Lauren Dane | 4.25 out of 5
2. The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely | 4 out of 5
3. Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison | 3 out of 5
4. Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan | 3 out of 5
5. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | 4.5 out of 5
6. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
7. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
8. A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole | 4.25 out of 5

Book Boyfriends

Michael Phan in The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Hunter Cross in I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne
Peter Kavinsky in P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Peter Kavinsky in Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

What I Reviewed

Good Kids (2016) | 3.75 out of 5
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | 5 out of 5
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) | 4 out of 5
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts | 4.25 out of 5
I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne | 4.5 out of 5
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | 4.5 out of 5
Double Standards by Judith McNaught | 4 out of 5
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5
The Kissing Booth (2018) | 3.25 out of 5
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han | 4.75 out of 5

What I Posted

Week in Review (92)
Monthly Recap: June 2018
Can’t Wait Wednesday: When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath
Week in Review (93)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Down with Love by Kate Meader
Week in Review (94)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting
Week in Review (95)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Forget You, Ethan by Whitney G
Throwback Thursday: Saying Goodbye to David
The Weekly Recap (96)
My TBR Pile: August 2018

What I Bought

Save the Date by Carrie Aarons
Crank (The Gibson Boys #1) by Adriana Locke
Cross (The Gibson Boys #2.5) by Adriana Locke
Getting Schooled by Emma Chase
Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan
Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriends #1) by Claire Kingsley
Cocky Roommate (Book Boyfriends #2) by Claire Kingsley
The Soldier Prince by Aarti V. Raman
Coming Undone (Brown Family #2) by Lauren Dane
Cocky Client (Steamy Coffee Reads #3) by Whitney G.
Beginner’s Luck (Chance of a Lifetime #1) by Kate Clayborn
Luck of the Draw (Chance of a Lifetime #2) by Kate Clayborn
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (Kwan Sisters #1) by Jackie Lau
Mr. Hotshot CEO (Kwan Sisters #2) by Jackie Lau
Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

What I Got for Review

All the Way by Kristen Proby
Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

What I Listened To

These are the three most listened to songs for me in the month of July. I have so much love for all of these songs.

What I Watched on TV

I enjoyed each of the shows I watched, even in some parts, 13 Reasons Why Season 2. There was a lot going on and while I was still frustrated with how shitty those kids were, in the end, I’m glad that I watched it. Suits and Take Two are both great shows that I’m really liking and Kims Convenience cracks me up. Goodness I love Asian comedy shows and movies.

What Movies I Watched

1. Forever My Girl (2018) | 4 out of 5
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) | 3.75 out of 5
3. How it Ends (2018) | 4.25 out of 5
4. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) | 3.75 out of 5
Locke (2013) | 3.25 out of 5
Blackway (2015) | 3.5 out of 5
The Loft (2014) | 3.5 out of 5
Love, Simon (2018) | 5 out of 5
The Commuter (2018) | 4.25 out of 5

What I Loved

Having this guy around…

There you have it, the month of July in my life. How did your July treat you? Read anything good? Do anything fun? Share in the comments!

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Throwback Thursday (24)

Posted January 4, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

In an effort to post more personal posts on the blog, I thought I’d bring back Throwback Thursday and roll with it again. Hopefully, I’ll keep this one going throughout the year.

A couple of months ago, one of my best friends Ralph, who just moved from California to Utah posted a bunch of old pictures of us from when we were kids and he posted this one.

Me, Therese, Tania

Holy cow, talk about childhood memories. A lot of my childhood and teenage years were spent performing different Polynesian dance numbers around town, at Church functions and family gatherings. I would grumble about having to learn a new dance every time we had dance practices but honestly, I loved it. I loved the dances, the people that I danced with and I really, really miss it all.

This picture features myself, my best friend Theresa and Theresa’s younger sister Tania. We’re still just as close now as we were in this picture. Goodness, time flies…

Until next week…enjoy!

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Week in Review (54)

Posted March 27, 2017 by Rowena in Features | 12 Comments

I’m going to change this feature up a bit and review my entire week, not just my week in books. I’ll be recapping what I’ve read and what I’ve watched.

It’s been a pretty busy couple of weeks for me. I attended the funeral for one of my best friend’s Dad. The services were beautiful and very Greek. I’ve never been to a Greek funeral before so it was an experience for me. Lots of standing and sitting and praying. Kind of like a Catholic service but in Greek. Lots of people came to the services to pay their respects to the family and it was a reunion of sorts. I saw childhood friends that I haven’t seen or talked to in years and it was a sad way to come together but I was so happy to reconnect with old friends.

I also went to my first strip club and man was that an experience. My friends took me there on a Monday night so it wasn’t on and poppin’ or anything and I think I was grateful for that. The joint we went to was dark but not bad. It looked like the strip clubs you see in movies and on TV. My stripper was drunk af. I tried to make it rain for her but she popped her legs right in my face and I almost touched her vagina so I jerked back in my seat, all shocked. I was so embarrassed that I just chucked my dollar, dollar bills at her like a softball and ran back to my table. After she was done, she came to our table to give me a hug and hung out with us. I thought it was strange at first but then I just went with it and asked her everything I was interested in knowing. You know, things like, “How do you spin so fast on the pole when you’re this drunk?” and “Do you choreograph your own routines?” and “How did you get started in stripping”. I left the strip club knowing my strippers entire life history and my friends are probably never going to let me live it down but I don’t even care. It was a memorable experience and my stripper was really nice…and really drunk. Haha.

I also got really sick later on this past week and that wasn’t fun at all. I was nauseous and all things bad and because of that, I missed an author event that I was looking forward to attending with my friend Holly. Instead, I stayed home and tried to get better and for the most part, I’m okay. Fingers crossed that whatever I had is gone for good.

Currently Reading

Frisk Me by Lauren Layne

Officer Luc Moretti had no idea that his dive into the East River would have him drowning in a media frenzy. No matter how many times he tells reporters he was just doing his job, they’re determined to make him into NYC’s newest hero. Coming from a long line of NYPD’s finest, Luc knows that being a cop has nothing to do with headlines and viral videos, and he’s more than ready to get back to life away from the cameras—until he meets the gorgeous but jaded journalist assigned to film a TV special on him.

Ava Sims may be the only woman in NYC who isn’t in love with Officer Moretti. That’s why she’s going after the real story—to find out about the man behind the badge. Ava’s determined to keep things strictly professional, but the more time she spends around Luc, even she has to admit there’s something about a man in uniform . . . and she can’t wait to get him out of his.

I started this book last night because I wanted some more Lauren Layne goodness. I’m going to be so sad when I don’t have any more Lauren Layne books to read for the first time but holy goodness, the heroine is on my last nerve and I’m still in the beginning. The way that she is toward the hero makes me want to throat punch her because she’s bitchy and I’m just not feeling her attitude. I hope she turns things around. We’ll see.

What I Read


Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas (re-read) | 4.5 out of 5
How the Duke was Won by Lenora Bell | 3.75 out of 5
If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell | 4.5 out of 5
Blame it on the Duke by Lenora Bell | 4 out of 5
Midnight Target by Elle Kennedy | 4 out of 5
Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne | 4.25 out of 5
Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen | 4.25 out of 5

Lots of good reading for me. I’m stoked about this!

Book Boyfriend of the Week


Mike Beacon in Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen and Dalton, Duke of Osborne in If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell

This week is a lot harder for me to pick just one book boyfriend because I pretty much loved all of the guys I read about. But, I have two book boyfriends this week because both of these guys totally rocked my socks. I loved the both of them so much and drooled my way through both of their books. Beacon…the strength of his love for Lauren and the need for him to be there for the women in his life. Gah, totally got me. Dalton with the love he had for his family, the grief he went through day in and day out for his little brother and then the love that grew between him and Thea was just all kinds of great. Loved them both!

What I Reviewed

Archangels Kiss by Nalini Singh (Buddy Review with Holly) | 3.75 out of 5
When the Marquess Falls by Lorraine Heath | 4 out of 5
Havoc by Jamie Shaw | 4 out of 5
Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas (Buddy review with Ames) | 3.75 out of 5
Retro Review of Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn | 4 out of 5

What I Got

The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young
Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
Second Chance Season by Liora Blake
The Girl with the Make Believe Husband by Julia Quinn

Love Story by Lauren Layne
Undeclared by Julianna Keyes
Off Sides by Sawyer Bennett
Frisk Me by Lauren Layne
Steal Me by Lauren Layne
Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

What I Watched on TV

I’m enjoying every single one of these shows. They’re all so freaking good.

What Movies I Watched

Kenna and I walked to the movies to see Beauty and the Beast and we were looking pretty beat up, having come straight from Kenna’s basketball games but we didn’t even care because we both loved the movie. We’ve been waltzing to Beauty and the Beast around the house ever since. Haha.

I also Logan and holy cow did I love that movie. So freaking good. I cried so much and am so bummed about things that happened in the movie but even with all the crying, it was a damn good movie. Loved it!

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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Throwback Thursday (2)

Posted December 3, 2015 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

TBT

I took a break last week because it was Thanksgiving but I’m back this week with some more throwback picture goodness.

This week’s throwback picture features friends from my childhood.

Ralph_Hanah_David

Ralph, Hanah and David

Check out Hanah pimping it between a used car salesman and Samoa’s wannabe GQ model. Oh man, talk about good ol’ days. If I remember correctly, this was at the fireside for our Mini Missions back when I was either 14 or 15. I remember that Leitina was my mission companion that weekend.

I have really fond memories of being a youth in the Nu’umau Ward. From girls camp to seminary with Ralph’s bad ass and then who could forget Ralph and Ingrid’s fight at the Manhattan Beach chapel? I look back and laugh because I had a good childhood with these guys. I’m fortunate that I keep in touch with all of my Nu’umau friends from back in the day. I’m sad that Brenna doesn’t have these kinds of memories. The youth program these days isn’t the same as they were when I was in the youth.

I had to do it guys…sorry not sorry? Haha.

Until next week…

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