Tag: Obsessions

Oh, Ryan Murphy, How the Mind Reels…

Well, everybody, it’s officially October! You may now cue your squeals of delight! It’s the month of pumpkins, candy corn and Halloween. That’s not all though. While some of you may not realize it, the month of October also signifies the start of something pretty extraordinary. I know that your on the edge of your seat…knees bouncing with intrigue and excitement to find out what I’m speaking of. Well if you guessed, popcorn balls, you’re sadly mistaken. You see, ladies and gentlemen, October means American Horror Story!

From the delightfully twisted mind of Mr. Ryan Murphy, each October brings us a new installment of this disturbing anthology. It’s safe to say that the obsession I have for this series borders on obscene. When one story ends, I pine for the next one to begin. And next week, the wait is finally over!

Like a lot of people, I first became aware of Ryan Murphy because of Glee. I fought against that damn musical t.v. show long and hard, but eventually, it’s adorable quirkiness and snarky characters won me over. Once I started watching, I was hooked. So when I heard about Mr. Murphy’s new project, I was instantly intrigued. The first thing I noticed… this was no Glee.

There’s gore and mystery, creepy sex and circus freaks. The things they’ve put on film have a tendency to turn your stomach. I barely made it through Asylum without puking (or having a full blown anxiety attack.)

So start your month off right! Set your DVR’s, or park your butts on the sofa. The new season, Hotel, starts on October 7th. For you AHS virgins out there, don’t miss out on this warped, little hour of television. And for all of the tried and true veterans…it looks like this is gonna be a good one!

Which season of the show has been your favorite so far? It’s a constant battle between Coven and Murder House for me!

***A little side note – the jury’s still out on Mr. Murphy’s other new show, Scream Queens, for any of you that are interested. The whole corny horror/comedy thing is either way too much, or just one more stroke of genius. I’ll keep you guys posted if I ever make a decision!***

Happy Fall, Ya’ll!

So last weekend, this happened…

Ahhh! The first pumpkin spice latte of the year is always a monumental moment in my life. It means that summer’s scorching hot days are coming to a close (although it will still be hot as heck!), and that it’s time for me to bust out my multitude of Fall decorations. So what if there’s no leaves changing color or temperatures that provide brisk autumn days…Florida Fall still counts!

We’ll rock our boots and sweaters, even if they’re accompanied by a sheen of sweat. We’ll still accessorize with cute scarves and hats. Slow cookers fill with soups and stews, while our ovens are blessed with casseroles and pie.

Fall is Hocus Pocus, Bath and Body Works candles and pumpkin scented soap. Just the idea of September, October and November gives me the warm and fuzzies. This is the time that I start to prepare my recipes for Thanksgiving Day, and plot my plan of attack for Black Friday night.

No doubt about it, this if my favorite time of year. So grab your loved ones and hit up the first pumpkin festival you can find. Then go home and eat an abundance of turkey…the glorious Fall season is finally here!

Color Me Shocked…My Jojo Moyes Experience

When it comes to books, I pride myself on the ability to figure them out before I even finish page one. For that matter, I’ve usually determined what will happen before the books even open. Once in a blue moon, however, I’m wrong (don’t tell my husband!)

Every now and then, I’ll come across a story that’s completely off the cuff. A novel that goes against the rules of storytelling and gives us something incredibly unique. Most of the time, these books offer the reader a single moment that will cause their breath to catch in their throats. The kind of moment that makes you wonder why you’re reading the book at all, and whether throwing the blasphemous thing across the room is the better option. Except that you can’t, and you realize that this element of surprise kind of makes you love the book even more.

This being said, I present you with my top three “caught off guard” classics:

Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn: If you’ve been living under a rock, let me tell you this; when “the moment” happens, you will want to cry, scream and bitch someone out all at once!
The Fault in Our Stars – John Green: Oh John Green, you terrible, wonderful man. You ruined my life and gave me one of the most beautiful reading experiences all at once. One day in the near future, I fully intend to dedicate an entire post to nothing but singing your praises!

And finally, number 3. The most recent addition to my list:

Me Before You – Jojo Moyes

Within the first few pages of this book, I was completely infatuated. There was a lightness to Moyes’ writing that pulled at my heart strings. She has a way of getting to you that you never dreamed possible.

This is the story of Lou Clark, a young girl who’s down on her luck after the diner she’s worked at for years closes down. With grim employment options, she finds herself working as a caretaker for the wealthy Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who spends his days dwelling on the past. When Lou first arrives to work for him, it’s truly rough waters. She spends her days lurking around his home, avoiding him at much as possible. Will, likewise, spends his days ruefully ignoring her.

In time, though, they develop an unexpected closeness that surprises them both. Here’s where I’d assumed I’d “figured it out.” An unconventional love story where both parties help the other to remember the joy and beauty in life, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yeah, not so much.

Now don’t get me wrong. They both do help one another to reclaim happiness in their lives, but the journey itself is quite shocking. There comes a moment in the book where you realize what an idiot you’ve been. You begin to understand that this is not a puppies and rainbows kind of story. Believe me when I say that I spent the last 100 pages or so with tears streaming down my face.

If you choose to pick up this book, be prepared for that moment. I won’t sugar coat anything, it will shatter your heart. But if you give this book a chance, you’ll see just how moving it really is. This is the first thing I’ve read in a very long time that pushed me to take a look at myself and evaluate each part of my own beautiful life. In my opinion, Me Before You isn’t just a book, it’s truly an experience.

That one I time I realized I might be a stalker…

So I’m a little bit fanatic when it comes to books. Sometimes I wish it was possible to literally fall into their pages for a nice long snuggle…seems like the coziest idea ever, in my opinion! I submerge myself in their words, and when I find a book that I fall completely in love with, it becomes a lifelong friend. The book will turn into a small part of me, and I will spend obscene amounts of time reflecting on all of the good times we’ve had.

Then, as I develop this strong attachment to the books themselves, I find myself willing to dedicate my life to the authors who’ve written them. Write a book that really pulls at my heartstrings and I will become your devoted enthusiast. Such was the case when I finished reading Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews. At the close of the book, I was ready and willing to crawl into the world that MKA created. And this is how I became a stalker.

Once I’d fallen in love with her fun work, I took the next logical step…I followed her on Facebook! Imagine my surprise and delight when one fateful day I discovered she was researching her next novel in my own hometown. I counted my lucky stars and decided it was completely appropriate to send her a message that went something like this…

“Hi there! I love your work and can’t help but notice that you’re currently in my hometown. I’d love the opportunity to meet you in person!”

I waited patiently for an invitation to join her at the beach house she was renting where we’d drink wine and giggle over the silly adventures of the characters in her books. We’d become besties and her next book would be dedicated to the wine-o from Florida! Instead, however, I got a very gracious thank you and an invite to the book signing she was holding the next day. Not exactly a day at the beach, but I’d take it! So then this happened…

Left - My friend Katie (and fellow stalker) Center - MKA Right - Yours truly — Left – My friend Katie (and fellow stalker)
Center – MKA
Right – Yours truly

She was so wonderful, not to mention hilarious, in real life that on a recent trip to Savannah, I once again took to her Facebook page. I knew she owned a vacation rental on Tybee Island and spent lots of her time there (Can you say stalker?) Much to my delight, there was going to be another signing during our vacation. I dragged my husband over there with me and had her sign the very book she’d been researching at our first meeting, Ladies Night.

Ladies Night tells the tale of a group of women (and one man) who have been wronged by their spouses and are each in the middle of nasty divorces. They are forced to attend weekly marriage counseling sessions and form fast friendships. When their counselor starts acting a little out of her head, things start getting interesting and the plot takes off. The book is set in my hometown area, so for any of my fellow locals, you’ll notice lots of familiar sites and areas, including the famous Rod and Reel Pier.

While I have to admit that this book might not be one of my favorites by MKA, that’s not to say you shouldn’t read it. It’s a fast, fun read that has all the necessary components. Things like romance, suspense, laughter, and women driving their ex-husbands Audi into a pool! This book is the perfect summer companion, and I highly recommend it to you all!

A Simple Salutation

Verve

[ Vurv]

Noun

enthusiasm or vigor, as in literary or artistic work;spirit:
vivaciousness; liveliness; animation:

When I made the decision to start this blog, I found myself wondering what it should be about. After all, I am, by no means, an expert on anything. Well unless being obsessive is something that a person can be an expert in!

And that’s what I am…obsessive. I have the capability to obsess over just about anything (“just about” being the pertinent phrase!) Whether it’s my child, a great book, finding the perfect glass of wine – sometimes I feel like I could get excited about a million different things before noon! Hence the name of this blog…”The Natural Verve.” I have a pure, simplistic enthusiasm for so many elements in my life.

So I ask…why pick one? Why not let you all in and share the whole lot of my many infatuations? And that’s what I intend to do. If you came to this blog looking for great recipes, I’m pretty sure you’ll find them in time. Looking for a good book? Something tells me you’ll eventually find a review or two (who am I kidding, probably a whole library’s worth!) Or maybe you found this blog and thought: “Hey, maybe that writer has a super cute kid?” The answer is yes, I most definitely do, and I will certainly be bragging about her adorable-ness!

At “The Natural Verve,” I won’t just offer you one choice from the color wheel. I plan on giving you the whole damn rainbow! So join me on this quest for variety. Read along as I make my way through my a world of likes, dislikes and new experiences! Welcome, and happy reading!