Twittering Thursdays Twitter Hop #2

Welcome to Twittering Thursdays Twitter Hop!

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Are you interesting in Co-Hosting next Thursdays Twitter Hop?  Email Deandra at phillipsdeandra@gmail.com
There is no charge to participate!

Please help spread the news about this TWITTER HOP!
Its only appropriate to TWEET about it!

Tweet

RULES:

Please follow each hostess.

Follow @ChaosCommoEmo
Follow @JenJHerron
Follow @homesweetauburn

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

Meet Me In St. Louis...Link Up: COMING SOON!

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Welcome to Meet Me In St. Louis...a blog hop where you can meet new bloggers and link up with them, all while learning something new about each of the co-hosts and participants!

Why Meet Me In St. Louis?  Well, being from St. Louis, Missouri, centrally located in the Midwest, I thought it would be a perfect spot to meet up and get to know other bloggers all around the globe!

I'M LOOKING FOR CO-HOSTS!  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!

What's in it for me if I'm not a co-host?  

Thats a great question!  Prior to each link up, I will post the "Meet Me In St. Louis" questions for those who are interested in linking up.  This way, when you have a new visitor to your blog, they can get to know you a little better right off the bat!  All I ask is that you participate in answering the questions, linking up to your "Meet Me In St. Louis" blog post, and add my button to your post.

Here's all the details:

**The Link Up will go live the 1st Tuesday of Every Month.**

**There will be 3-5 questions answered by the hosts each month. For others participating in the link up, you will need to link up the post where you answered the questions. (I can email you the questions in advance if you would like more time to prepare your post)**

**I'm shooting for the first link up to go live on January 1st**

What does it cost me to participate?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for co-hosts and participants who link up.

**I ask that you follow each of your hosts**

**Click around and take a look at some of the other participants blogs and like them too.  Make sure you leave a comment on their blog letting them know you are a new follower and put a link in your comment to your blog so they know who to follow back.**

**Promote this link up via twitter, facebook, placing the button on your side bar, etc. - whatever you typically do!**

**HAVE FUN!  Make some new friends, get to know some new people.**

Do you have some questions that you would like to see answered by some other fellow bloggers?  Send them to me here!  If your question is chosen, you will be that months featured HOST automatically!

Can't wait to link up with everyone and read all kinds of fun facts about all my new and old friends!

If you are interested in co-hosting, please email me at phillipsdeandra@gmail.com

Twittering Thursday's Twitter Hop! #1

Welcome to Twittering Thursdays Twitter Hop!

<center> <a href="http://chaos-commotion-emotion.blogspot.com/search/label/Twittering%20Thursday"><img src=http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/DeandraBosqui/twitteringthursdays250x250_zps16a1d22f.jpg" /></a></center>

Are you interesting in Co-Hosting next Thursdays Twitter Hop?  Email Deandra at phillipsdeandra@gmail.com
There is no charge to participate!

Please help spread the news about this TWITTER HOP!
Its only appropriate to TWEET about it!

Tweet

RULES:

Please follow each hostess.

Follow @ChaosCommoEmo
Follow @theroguebaby
Follow @SouthernSCBeans

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

Me, Myself & I December Link Up

1) What was your favorite gift given to you as a child?

My favorite gift as a child was my little tykes Kitchen.  I remember playing with it, but I think the best memory are those that my family shares when they talk about the Christmas morning that I got it.  I made everyone breakfast, including cracking the plastic eggs so hard that the plastic cracked.  I kept this kitchen until I was well into my teens and even though I never played with it anymore because I was way to old, it was still hard to part with.

2) Christmas is almost here, what is that one Christmas song you could listen to on repeat?

Chipmunks Christmas Song

Although up until a couple of years ago, it was Mariah Careys "All I Want For Christmas is You" but the radio ruined that for me by playing it on repeat for me!

3) What are a few of the items on your Christmas list this year?

Bissel Spotbot

MAC Makeup Giftcard

New riding boots

4) Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions? Explain.

Every year since I was a kid, my mom always had Christmas Morning Breakfast at her house.  This is still a tradition.  We visit my in-laws on Christmas Eve every year and spend X-Mas morning with my parents.  Even now that we have a child.  Its just tradition.

5) Which do you prefer: wrapping paper or gift bags? Why?

Up until I had Drew, I preferred gift bags for the simplicity.  Now, I prefer wrapping paper because its so much more fun to watch the kids tear into it.  However, the adults usually get gift bags still.  I also like receiving gift bags for the simple fact that it provides a way to transport all the new goodies home with me.

Book Review: "Bared to You" by Sylvia Day

Bared to You by Sylvia Day (Crossfire #1)
Berkley Publishing
2012

Format: e-book

First Line(s): "We should head to a bar and celebrate."  I wasn't surprised by my roommate's emphatic pronouncement.  Cary Taylor found excuses to celebrate, no matter how small and inconsequential.  I'd alwasy considered it part of his charm.  "I'm sure drinking the night before starting a new job is a bad idea."

Synopsis from Goodreads: “If I were to recommend any book today to readers who enjoyed 50 Shades…this would be the first one I would offer….scorching love scenes.”—Dear Author

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness…

He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

My Thoughts:  I read this following the 50 Shades of Grey series.  These are not typically my "normal" type of read, however I had to see what all the hype was about.  This series was recommended to me by a friend after I told her that the 50 Shades of Grey books annoyed me due to the whiny heroine in the books.


The plot of this book is a little too similar to the 50 shades of grey books.  But it also had its differences which in my opinion made it a tad better than the 50 shades books.

Similarities:

• The hero (Gideon Cross) is a late 20's, tall, dark and irresistibly handsome billionaire, afraid of commitment, until he meets Eva.
• Gideon needs to be in control and is very obsessive when it comes to the heroine, Eva Tramell.  Very jealous personality as the book continues in both the hero and heroine.  Gideon maintains friendships with past lovers which Eva cannot tolerate.
• Everything with Gideon is sex...its always the matter of topic and on his mind non-stop.
• Gideon has commitment issues due to being abused as a small child.  He is not into relationships, but Eva is different.  With her he desires more than just sex, he wants her commitment to him - to give her the title all women dream of....girlfriend.
• TONS of sex...

Differences:

• There are no contracts, BDSM (yet anyway, they reference some remarks about it, but as of the end of this book there is none of that taking place).
• Eva is jealous, but no where near as whiney as Ana was.  She is able to communicate and speak her mind.  She is way more confident than Ana, but with anyone who dates a young, handsome, billionaire, she is constantly wondering why he is so into her when he can have anyone he desires.
• Both Gideon and Eva were abused sexually as children (at least I assume Gideon was based on my interpretation of what I read).  This shapes the characters into the people that they are and how they handle their relationship and take it to new levels.
• TONS of sex...only more graphic and more of it than 50 Shades.  Christian Grey doesn't hold a candle to Gideon in my opinion.

This book is primarily porn, but it does have a story and plot.   Gideon and Eva provide a wild ride and a compelling story about obsession, lust, and heavy burdens from their troubled pasts.  I hope Book 2 of the series, Reflected in You, will give some more insight on Gideon's past and solve the mystery of what causes his horrific nightmares and hidden secrets.

Bared to You gets 3.8 stars.

Random facts...

Speaking of Random...talk about Nickelback again...and while we are at it...Dave Matthews sucks.  (Just kidding, but if you go off on my band, I'm going to return the favor!)

• I figure skated competitively for 13 years and eventually taught lessons. Boy do I miss those days...and those thighs.
• My brother is one of my best friends. No matter what, hes always there for me and understands me in a way that some of my very close friends never will.
• My grandma was my favorite person in the whole world.  She died almost 3 years ago and it still hurts me everyday.  
• I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis at 14. I've had 4 surgeries, but it keeps spreading. They told me I would never have children...proved them wrong...:-)
• I'm addicted reading horribly written books.  No-not really, but those types of books always seem to make it into my bookshelf through a recommendation.
• When I was a child, I wanted to be a writer and write books. I'm a very creative writer and love to write whenever I get the chance.
• Speaking of writing, I am published. My college english/writing teacher published one of my homework assignments. A paper that I wrote for an assignment in a college writing class...a paper that I wrote at 2 am drunk as a skunk. It was a comparative essay titled... Santa Claus vs. The Easter Bunny.
• In H.S., my best friend Val called me "dumbass" on the way to the dance for leaving the homecoming tickets at home. Guess it kind of stuck, because to this day, she still calls me dumbass....and so does her husband, and her family, and my family...and just about anyone who knows me.
• I'm a pretty good dart player. I've played in leagues since I was 17. I used to be better than I am now...could be better than I am now, but enjoy it more as a hobby than anything.
• I love Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, & Elvis Presley. The good ones always die so young.
• One of my favorite movies is Gone with the Wind. My grandma and I watched it as a little girl...how many little girls do you know that could sit through a movie that long? Other favorites is the Cutting Edge, Dirty Dancing, North & South, and Pearl Harbor. I could watch those again and again.
• I'm married the guy that I was infatuated with in high school. But he was off limits back then because he dated a friend of mine. I think after 10 years, its ok for me to date a guy that a friend dated briefly in HS and eventually marry him, although I never asked for permission either.
• I want to learn how to play the piano. I took lessons as a kid, but hated it. Now I'm at an age to appreciate it.  I may have to live vicariously through my son once he's old enough.
• I have a bucket list...a list of things I want to do before I "kick the bucket". I've had this list since I was in high school...although over the years, some things have been marked off and others added. I've never showed it to anyone, nor will I.
• I am an organized mess. From the looks of things, you would think that I'm a slob, but I'm actually very organized.
• It is my generation to have triplets. Which is ok with me...knock them out with one shot!  I used to think that till I became a mother.  Now I'm THANKFUL for only one at a time.
• I HATE onions. Its actually the smell I can't stand...but therefore, I cannot eat them. I also hate mushy foods, i.e bananas, beans,etc. etc.
• I share a birthday with Neil Diamond, Mary Lou Retton, and the great John Belushi.
• I took swing dancing lessons. I'm not saying I'm good at this type of dancing, but I got some moves...
• I hate shopping. I'm really not a girly girl. I prefer to shop online...in fact, I did all my black Friday shopping from the comfort of my home.
• I tried to enlist in the military out of high school...but they wouldn't take be because of my health issues.
• My favorite color is purple.
• I don't like clubs. I prefer a hole in the wall bar over a nightclub. My "Cheers" is Rookies. I used to live there pre-Drew.
• I can drink gallons of iced tea. It is one of my favorite drinks. No wonder I can't sleep at night!!

Jewels By Park Lane - Deandra Phillips: Naptime Review & $25 Park Lane Gift Certificate Gi...

Jewels By Park Lane - Deandra Phillips: Naptime Review & $25 Park Lane Gift Certificate Gi...: I had the privilege to work with  Deandra . She is a rep from an AWESOME jewelry collection called  Park Lane . I seriously had a hard t...