Monday, March 23, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. Thanks Sheila! 

On the Home Front: 
I'm on day 4 of a 28 day gluten-free trial, while I'm waiting for nerve conduction tests on my hands. There's research indicating that some autoimmune diseases and gluten sensitivity go hand in hand and going gluten free may lead to improvement. It would be amazing to have relief but part of me doesn't want this to be the answer. I love bread and scones and cake and pasta and ... yes there are good substitutes now ... mind you there's some pretty awful substitutes that cost an arm and a leg and end up in the bin. Sorry, this was going to be a post on its own for weekend cooking and then day 3 happened ... 

Day 1: I can do this, it's only 28 days, shopping was fun.
Day 2: this is a novelty, can still eat lots of my faves. YAY for cherry ripes.
Day 3: kill me now, I hate everything and can't stop fantasising about hot cinnamon donuts ... my hands are on fire, my omelette was slightly burnt, the smell of our neighbours bbq is making me feel sick, my tv shows keep freezing and I'm so cranky the sound of 'someone' breathing is pissing me off. 
Day 4: day 3 sucked, glad it's over! LOL 


FitReaders Weekly Check-In: 


 
#FitReaders co-hosted by Felicia @ Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and Jen @ That’s What I’m Talking AboutFitReaders is a great way to stay motivated, accountable and it's more fun having bloggy friends to check in with. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :) 

Fitbit Steps: 
Mon: 14,342 steps ~ walk with Bella
Tue:  10,060 steps 
Wed: 9137 steps ~ walk to appointments
Thurs: 7236 steps
Fri: 8905 steps ~ short walk with Mia and Bella
Sat:  5241 steps 
Sun: 5102 steps 

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Giveaway:

THE TAPESTRY by Nancy Bilyeau (Joanna Stafford #3) ~ tour wide giveaway for 3 autographed hardcover copies. Open to North America and UK. Enter here.








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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

MIST OF MIDNIGHT by Sandra Bryd (The Daughters of Hampshire #1) ~ wonderfully atmospheric; mystery and mist.

THE TAPESTRY by Nancy Bilyeau (Joanna Stafford #3) ~ superb series, excellent final installment. 

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Finished last week:

INSIDE THE O'BRIEN'S by Lisa Genova ~ Huntington's Disease is an evil bastard. Review Thurs

CONFESS by Colleen Hoover ~ loved it, mostly

THE LAST ANNIVERSARY by Liane Moriarty (audiobook) ~ pretty good

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This Week's Reading List: 



CONSPIRACY GIRL by Sarah Alderson

WILD WOOD by Posie Graeme-Evans ~ can't wait

GREAT-GRANDMA'S GIFTS by Marianne Jones

 A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE by Malla Nunn (audiobook) 

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Reviews Coming:

TURTLE REEF by Jennifer Scoullar ~ extra special since I've not long played with the turtles on Lady Elliot Island. Review Tue

TELL THE TRUTH by Katherine Howell (Ella Marconi #8) ~ great installment, sad it's the last in the Ella Marconi series ... for now. I'm not ready for goodbye! 

THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE by Cynthia Hand (audiobook) ~ a departure from Cynthia Hand's usual, very moving. 

LEAVING HOME by Jodi Picoult (audiobook) ~ three short pieces on the subject of leaving home. 



30 comments:

  1. I'm hoping you get relief soon, and that going gluten free is a help for you. Hopefully this week goes better. I promise if I eat anything yummy, I won't tell you about it.

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    1. LOL Ryan, thanks for making me laugh. Day 4 is better :)

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  2. It is hard to go gluten free. I did it for 3 months a couple of years ago. I know it has helped to heal inflammation for some and so does cutting back or eliminating sugar. Good luck! It is hard even with increasing options.

    I hope to read Inside the Obriens soon and look forward to your review. Still Alice was excellent.

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    1. 3 months ... that's a good test, did it help you Christina? I'm doing better today :)
      I loved Still Alice too and Inside the O'Briens was well researched and very moving.

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  3. Hang in there! I have never tried to go gluten free but there are many gluten free items I enjoy. Costco in the states has a great selection of items.

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    1. Thanks Sheila, we've got a pretty good selection here but did you know M&M's in the US are gluten free and M&M's in Australia aren't ... bummer lol.

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  4. I laughed when you said so cranky someone breathing is pissing you off! That's when I know I am really cranky!!
    I sort of hope you get some relief from it, but as you say it would be tough for that to be the answer. Yikes.
    You accomplished a good amount of reading this week, all unfamiliar to me, so looking forward to the reviews to be educated.
    Great stepping - your short walk would probably be a long one for me.

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    1. LOL Kathryn, nice to hear you know the sort of cranky I'm talking about. Far less cranky today thank goodness. Believe me my short walk is no exaggeration, it's just to the local corner store, 10 mins round trip or a 15 min dawdle ;)

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  5. I hope the gluten-free diet will help your hands. I was doing low-carb for a while, and while it was hard at first to cut out the rice, potatoes and pasta, after a while it got a lot easier. Now I'm off the low-carb (it wasn't agreeing with me) and I actually have to make a conscious effort to get enough carbs in me!

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    1. low carb would be hard, glad I don't have to try that or no sugar ... now that would be hell lol

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  6. I have "The Last Anniversary" in my Kindle library and I'm thinking it might be my next Liane Moriarty read!

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    1. Have you read The Husband's Secret Melinda? ... definitely my favourite of hers!

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  7. I should try gluten free, but I get food at work, it would be a hazzle

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  8. Why can't they ever discover that we should never eat broccoli or lima beans? Bread? Seriously? But, in any case, I hope they are able to help improve your health.

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    1. I'm with you on lima beans and what about awful brussel sprouts lol ... anyway as much as I'm whinging, it's worth a try :)

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  9. Sorry you had a bad week :( I am thinking a package of US M&M's are gonna be on the way to you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have Easter ones right now here!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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  10. I have a niece who tries to be gluten free. Trying to think why. She has a lot of issues or so her mother thinks (I'm not quite as convinced). In any case, hoping you get some relief however you can find it and if it's gluten-free, well, I supposed you could adjust. I mean, if someone told us that something was poisonous and we would die from eating it, we'd be less inclined to indulge. It's just that whole logical mind that would say, "Not really poisonous.". LOL

    Hope you week is a good one and I'd say I'd be happy to send you some M&M's as well. :-)

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  11. I have neuropathy in my hands & feet from 10 years of chemotherapy. I read about the gluten free thing helping the nerves and asked my doctor about it. I was actually relieved when he said that there was no cure for me! Good luck with it, I know many people find it life-changing.

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  12. I enjoyed The Last Anniversary...and can't wait to get Inside the O'Briens. I hope to love Ugly Love, so I can buy Confess...LOL.

    Enjoy your week, and your gluten-free trial, which sounds kind of excruciating...maybe that won't be the cause.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  13. Good luck with going gluten-free. I hope it works and you get used to the food choices. It looks like you read some interesting books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  14. I hope you get some relief, but I totally get not wanting that to be the answer because I too love bread way too much. :(

    I'm SO glad to see you liked Confess!!

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  15. I don't blame you, i adore all things bready. I've recently given up white bread in favour of multigrain for sandwiches and toast but that's has far as I will go!

    Have a great week,
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  16. Good luck on changing your diet. I don't have willpower for things like that. Hope it helps. Emma

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  17. Several in my family suffer from Celiac Disease and must be gluten free in soaps, food, etc. Almost all of Walmart brand items are gluten free, and many of the name brand items are gluten free. I hope you find relief soon. :)

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  18. Nice line-up of reads for the coming week(s). Hope you find some good gluten-free foods and start to feel better.

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  19. Going gluten free is hard! I had two friends give it a try to see if it helped with their fibro, it did not make a huge difference for them, so I am reluctant to give it a try. Not sure I want to put myself through the heartbreak of reading Inside the O'briens. Did get Confess and look forward to reading it. I'd be happy to send you M & Ms!

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  20. oh no Teddy dear! So sorry to read about this. One of my staff has celiac which means no gluten and while it's easier nowadays still tough. Hang in there.

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  21. I'm coeliac so totally get the GF thing. And I've got 2 other autoimmune diseases - hypothyroidism and some stomach thing I can never remember the name of!

    Hope the 28 days aren't too difficult!

    Deb

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  22. I am continuing to hope you find relief. Seems that you are staying busy in the reading department. Nice to have distractions. :-) Happy Reading.

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