Friday Favorites: Currently Reading (or just finished)

I tend to go through spurts where I will read a lot in a short amount of time, and then I will take a break for 1-2 (well, maybe more) months.  I'm not sure exactly why it happens to me like that.  I've always wanted to be the type of person that reads at the end of the day, before I go to sleep.  I have just never been able to achieve that goal.  Recently, I have been successful at reading before bed and not staying up too late!  It all started with something that I'm kind of afraid to admit to all you blog readers out there...

50 Shades of Grey- I had seen a lot on twitter recently about this book.  I knew that there was going to a special on 20/20 with the author, and I had read some online about it.  I didn't know if I really wanted to read it.  It's about a recent college graduate who met a very successful business man, and there was an instant attraction.  She feels like she could fall in love with him, but he's into some serious stuff.... BDSM.  Now, that's not at all the kind of thing that I'm in to, so I have no clue why I was so drawn to this book.  I don't think it's fun or sexy, but I seriously could not put this book down.  I read the whole thing in 4 sittings over 5 days.  Now that it's over I'm debating about whether I should continue on with the trilogy, or if I should call it a day and be done with reading about freaky sex.  (HA!)

After flying through such a serious book, I needed something a little less intense.  I had bought this book right after it came out, but I just hadn't decided to pick it up.  I talked about Ree Drummond in my last Friday Favorites post.  I love her.  I love her food (in extreme moderation).  I love her blog.  I love her dog, Charlie.  I love the life that she lives.  I was very intrigued when this came out because I'm always wanting to know more about famous people that I like.  I also flew through this book, it was finished within a week.  It's her and her husband's love story.  It was so sweet and touching and heartbreaking and amazing.  I loved everything.  One reason I may have loved it so much is because it was simple, pure, and very sweet, which was a huge contrast to what I had just finished reading!  If you just want a sweet love story then you should pick this up.

Little Bee is another book that I picked up FOREVER ago, but after finishing the last book I was desperate to start reading something else right away.  I just started this one a few nights ago before bed. I have just read the first chapter, but I'm certainly intrigued!  I can't wait to get further into it.

I know that Little Bee is more on the serious side of things, so I decided that I needed to pick up something that was a little lighter to balance it with.  I couldn't resist picking this book up yesterday.  I'm already 60 pages in and I am seriously LOVING it.  I have already had several LOLs, and everyone that I have talked to that has read it highly recommends it.  I'll have to let you guys know how it goes.

There you have it!  Those are the books that I'm into right now.  I seriously cannot believe that I blogged about 50 Shades of Grey!  I feel like no one talks about reading it (at least I don't know one person that has told me they've read it), so maybe I broke the ice.  If you have read it, I want to know!  I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week!  I am planning on blogging with my Sangria and baked Brie recipe this weekend.

Friday Favorites- TV edition!

Greg and I are both loving Smash!  I think that they definately has good and not so good episodes.  It's recently been renewed for another season, and I can't wait to see what happens!  If you like musicals, theater, singing, or drama then you will love this!  I also love Katherine McPhee and Debra Messing!

Castle is one our of all time favorites!  I find that I'm becoming more and more frustrated with the state of Castle and Beckett's relationship!  Anyone else feeling this way?  I think that the tension between them is getting to be more than I can stand.  I wish they would just tell each other how they are feeling!

I love Jeff Lewis and Jenni!  I'm so glad that they are back with a new show.  It makes the time between Flipping Out seasons more bearable.  It's so entertaining to watch them move in with clients, and try to help them work through issues.  I find this even more amusing because Jeff has so many issues of his own, it's funny to watch him react to other people's strange habits and design sense.

I know, I don't need a lecture about how this one is on it's last leg.  Everyone is saying that ABC is going to cancel it, but I still love it.  I think that Shonda Rhime's writing is phenominal, and the acting is great as well.  I love that this show deals with such difficult topics, and I always find myself crying at some point during the episode.  I will be very sad to see it go if ABC decides to cancel it.

Greg only tolerates this show because I love it so much.  I've really enjoyed watching this season unfold.  I am a tad bit peeved with the HUGE break that they have been on for the last two months.  Why does ABC think that is such a good idea?  Although I love this show, I am not sure how it can carry on for more than one season.  I guess we will just have to see what happens.

Okay, seriously, don't judge me.  This show is hysterical.  The Robertson family is a total hoot.  I find myself laughing throughout the entire show.  It's interesting to watch their family dynamic and how it affects the family business.  Greg will claim that he doesn't like this show, but you know what?  He laughs through the entire episode too!

Hello!  Have you seen this new show?  If not, then you need to stop reading and go over to ABC's web-site and watch it.  Now, do it.  Great show!  I just love Shonda Rhimes writing, she is very talented.  I love all her shows! (even though Grey's Anatomy isn't getting any love on this post)  I love how intense this is, and the Olivia Pope is a total bad ass.

I have no idea why I love this show so much.  I think it's the people on the show that I love.  I think that Troy and Bruce (I call him Big Sexy) really make the show.  If you haven't seen this then you should hop on over to the History Channel and give it a try.  It's very entertaining!  Again, Greg will probably try and deny that he likes this one, but we watch it together every week.  

I love Ree Drummond.  period.  I don't necessarily think that you should make her food every single day, or just as the recipe calls for.  I think a lot of improvements could be made to her recipes to make them healthier, but sometimes nothing is better than a butter and cream filled batch of mashed potatoes with a big juicy steak.  I love the insight into her life and cooking on this Food Network show.  They have just restarted the first series, and I'm looking forward to the new season.

If you haven't been watching this show then you are really missing out.  Discovery Channel makes the most magnificent shows about Earth.  They have ways of capturing the most amazing moments on camera.  I have loved seeing this mini-series!  My favorite episodes are the ones that show the behind the scenes footage because I think it is crazy to see how they are able to film these wild creatures in their natural habitat.

Well, there you have it.  This is my first Friday Favorites post, and hopefully I will be able to keep it up every week.  If you have a suggestion on what next Friday's post should be about then just let me know!  I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend, and grab your remote to set the DVR!